OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The cleanup of the contaminated site in Madison Heights that was discovered when green ooze seeped onto I-696 is moving into another phase.
Crews have been working through the pandemic to cleanup the site in phases and more work is coming. The biggest task now is to demolish the building itself.
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Federal and state agencies charged with cleaning up the site that produced the green ooze are highlighting the progress that has been made.
“307,000 gallons of liquid taken off site for disposal,” Tricia Edwards with the United States Environmental Protection Agency said.
It’s been an expensive undertaking so far for the taxpayers. The EPA has pent $2.2 million so far with an estimated $2 million more in future costs at the former Electroplating Services site.
The man accused, Gary Sayers, is fighting it all from jail.
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“City does have the right to demolish that building as the appeal goes forward,” Tracy Kecskemeti, with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality said.
Madison Heights will demolish the building as soon as it has the money. The state noted that the contamination is contained, but the costs are not if cleanup isn’t finished right away.