A look at hexavalent chromium -- what it is, why it's dangerous and how it's used.

After years of legal battles, a condemned Madison Heights building deemed responsible for a toxic chemical spill is getting demolished.

Demolition for the site will begin tomorrow at the former electro-plating services.

The battle over the toxic green ooze site in Madison Heights is heating up.

There are new questions surrounding the green ooze site along I-696 in Madison Heights.

It’s been nearly two years since toxic green ooze was first spotted along I-696 and the work to clean it all up is far from over.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – The eastbound I-696 ramp to Couzens Avenue in Madison Heights will close at 9 a.m. Monday for the final stages of the cleanup of the toxic green ooze. In December, 2019, hexavalent chromium was found leaking onto I-696. Since then, workers with the EPA and ELGE have been cleaning the site. Authorities said the ramp closure will allow for the removal of concrete to fully clean and remove the known-carcinogen. Madison Heights officials said EGLE and EPA conducted an extensive investigation, installed a treatment system and collected more than 350,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater to be treated.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – It started with a leak onto Interstate 696 in Madison Heights where green ooze caught the attention of people driving by. Now, more than a year after first descending on the site, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is ready to release the project to the state. All of out analytical is where we want it to be,” said Tricia Edwards with the EPA. Gary Sayers, the owner of the Madison Heights building and property in Detroit, served time in prison related to the matter. Sayers wasn’t interested in talking in November, but has been keeping up his legal fight, still working to stop the demolition of the site.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Enough progress has been made in cleaning up the toxic green ooze site in Madison Heights that the federal government has handed control back over to Michigan officials. The work has never stopped at the green ooze site -- even during the pandemic. Madison Heights officials said EGLE and EPA conducted an extensive investigation, installed a treatment system and collected more than 350,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater to be treated. Gary Sayers, the owner of the building at the center of the Madison Heights toxic ooze case, hasn’t been seen much since November. A virtual town hall meeting with Madison Heights officials, the EPA and EGLE will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. More information can be found here.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – The building owner responsible for the toxic green ooze mess in Madison Heights surprised everyone by returning to the site of the issue, where he was confronted by police and Local 4′s Hank Winchester. He showed up at the site of the Madison Heights building identified as the source of toxic green ooze that leaked onto the roadway. “We have been battling this situation for years,” Madison Heights Mayor Roslyn Grafstein said. There were hearings in Lansing, town halls in Madison Heights and courtroom battles over who dropped the ball. On Thursday, Sayers showed up at the Madison Heights property at the center of the scandal and wanted to look around inside.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – The owner of the toxic green ooze site in Madison Heights has gotten off some of his probation restrictions, and that could have an effect on cleanup efforts. RECENTLY: Funding approved to demolish site, but fight is far from overFunding has been secured to help pay for the demolition of the Madison Heights building responsible for leaking green ooze onto the highway, but the fight over the future of the property is far from over. Sayers has been working to maintain control, and Local 4 has learned he’s also inquired about wanting to visit the site. Funding approved to demolish green ooze site, but fight is far from overFunding has been secured to help pay for the demolition of the Madison Heights building responsible for leaking green ooze onto the highway, but the fight over the future of the property is far from over. The mayor of Madison Heights has reason to be optimistic about the site because money is making its way to the city to not only clean the property, but eventually tear it down.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Funding has been secured to help pay for the demolition of the Madison Heights building responsible for leaking green ooze onto the highway, but the fight over the future of the property is far from over. The mayor of Madison Heights has reason to be optimistic about the site because money is making its way to the city to not only clean the property, but eventually tear it down. Michigan officials pledged $600,000 in the effort to tear down the building, and now Oakland County leaders are stepping up to pledge $400,000 to get the job done. That means $1 million is going into the effort to take care of the ongoing problem. You can watch Hank Winchester’s full update in the video posted above.

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. READ: Court battle over toxic ooze site in Metro Detroit turns heatedFederal and state agencies charged with cleaning up the site that produced the green ooze are highlighting the progress that has been made. Madison Heights will demolish the building as soon as it has the money. READ: More coverage on the Madison Heights contamination

DETROIT The owner of the Madison Heights building linked to green ooze that seeped onto I-696 has finally started to clean up his worrisome Detroit property after months of pressure from city and state officials. The battle between Gary Sayers and officials has been going on for months. EGLE and Detroit officials said Sayers ignored repeated calls about getting the work done over the last several months. Any clearing of debris on the property helps facilitate our ability to assess the site for possible contamination.Sayers is also battling state and city leaders in Madison Heights, where green ooze seeped from his building and onto I-696. Testing and cleanup at the Madison Heights site are ongoing.

There is a heated court battle over a toxic ooze site in Metro Detroit. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. Gary Sayers, the owner of the toxic green ooze site in Madison Heights, is in a legal battle over the possible demolition of the property. The city wants the building demolished, but Sayers has been fighting it every step of the way. Sayers and his attorney have been fighting the city in hopes of preventing his building being demolished. City attorneys argued Wednesday the site is a danger and its all because of Sayers. The judge sided with the prosecutor, but legal experts predict Sayers will try to stall as long as possible.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. Its been nearly seven months since toxic green ooze started leaking along I-696 in Oakland County. The ooze was later linked to the Electroplating Services building along 10 Mile Road. Work is being done to make sure the source of the green ooze is cleaned up permanently. The goal of injection treatment to address the groundwater contamination as it migrates from the Electroplating Services building. Legal proceedings are currently underway to authorize demolition and removal of the Electroplating Services building.

DETROIT Gary Sayers, the owner of the toxic green ooze site in Madison Heights, is now in a legal battle over possible contamination at his property in Detroit. MORE: Photos, records show Madison Heights building at center of toxic ooze case has been unsafe for yearsSayers just got out of prison. Last year, a Madison Heights building owned by Sayers leaked toxic green ooze onto a roadway. Officials want his Detroit property cleaned up so they can test to see if contamination has spread into the ground. Protecting the environment and public health remains a top priority.Sayers has also been working to block the demolition of his Madison Heights building.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, crews are still working on cleaning up the toxic green ooze that leaked onto I-696. Since the pandemic began, new precautions were put in place to make sure those working to clean up the ooze were safe at all times. The legal battle between Madison Heights and Sayers is ongoing. In November 2019, Sayers was sentenced to a year and a day in prison after he pleaded guilty to storing hazardous waste without a permit. At Electro-Plating Services, inspectors found an estimated 5,000 containers of hazardous waste and materials that were improperly stored, unlabeled, open and corroded or in very poor condition.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – On Friday officials from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy released updates on the investigation into the Electro-Plating Services contamination in Madison Heights, and additional properties owned by convicted polluter and Electro-Plating owner Gary Sayers. You can read the latest updates from the state environmental agency here:Tests of Madison Heights drinking water showed no detection of PFAS compounds and no other contaminants at levels of concern, city officials reported Friday. A public informational meeting on the Electro-Plating Services contamination will take place 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, at Madison High School, 915 E. 11 Mile Road. The city of Madison Heights is organizing the event with U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, state Sen. Jeremy Moss, state Rep. Jim Ellison and Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. A public information session for Electro-Plating Services is scheduled for Feb. 3.

DETROIT – Crews are testing samples of a potentially hazardous substance that was found in an abandoned building across the street from Commonwealth Industries in Detroit. Officials have discovered abandoned chemicals at Commonwealth Industries, which was owned, at least one time, by Gary Sayers -- the man linked to the potentially hazardous green ooze that leaked onto I-696 in Madison Heights. Now investigators are poking around at the buildings across the street of Commonwealth Industries. Local 4 has learned several drums were found in an abandoned building, and more drums could be seen out in the open in the other building. The environmental cleanup crew took samples from the drums Thursday and will test them to see just how dangerous the chemicals are.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – The city of Madison Heights has already condemned Electro-Plating Services on 10 Mile Road and is asking an Oakland County judge to force the owner, Gary Sayers, to tear it down and clean up the land. Gary Sayers headed to prison recently after he pleaded guilty to storing hazardous waste without a permit. Hexavalent chromium was discovered on the eastbound side of the roadway, near the Couzens Road exit, on Dec. 20, 2019. “This is the worst site I’ve ever seen,” Jeff Lippert, with the EPA, told the court. Not only did Sayers not follow correct protocol, according to the witnesses, but he wasn’t permitted for these chemicals either.

New concerns raised about contaminated site in Madison HeightsPublished: January 13, 2020, 11:09 pmThe city of Madison Heights has already condemned Electro-Plating Services on 10 Mile Road and is asking an Oakland County judge to force the owner, Gary Sayers, to tear it down and clean up the land.

Video shows investigators removing samples from Detroit building owned by Gary SayersPublished: January 13, 2020, 12:10 pmLocal 4 cameras were rolling this morning as investigators removed what appeared to be new samples taken from inside the Detroit building owned by Gary Sayers. A cooler and several containers made their way into an environmental service truck. Detroit fire and city inspectors were also on scene.

DETROIT – Local 4 has new video of investigators removing what appear to be samples of potentially hazardous liquid from a Detroit building connected to the leak in Madison Heights. Sayers was recently imprisoned for violations of environmental laws in connection with the Madison Heights incident, police said. Some of that liquid resembled the green ooze from Sayers’ Madison Heights facility, according to officials. A glycol heater and and insulated pipes were added to the Madison Heights operation to protect it from freezing temperatures, police said. Soil and groundwater samples taken from locations near Madison Heights will be evaluated in the coming weeks, according to authorities.

A Detroit property will be searched as part of the I-696 green ooze investigation. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.

Could the man responsible for contamination at Madison Heights site have also done it elsewhere? Published: January 3, 2020, 11:17 pmThe Environmental Protection Agency was at the now-condemned Electro-Plating Services in Madison Heights collecting more soil samples.

Cleanup in full swing at green ooze site in Madison HeightsPublished: January 2, 2020, 5:29 pmCrews from the EPA and the state filled the site taking samples and cleaning it up.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Officials are working on a long-term fix after a green substance was discovered seeping onto I-696 in Madison Heights on Dec. 20. The substance was found on the eastbound side of the roadway, near the Couzens Road exit. The immediate threat has been contained, but now officials are looking into a long-term solution for groundwater that has been contaminated. The business’ owner, Gary Sayers, will serve time behind bars in connection with hazardous waste that was stored without a permit at the site. Officials said the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality knew about violations for years and allowed the business to remain open.

Candice Miller blasts state environmental agency over green 'ooze' leak on I-696Published: December 31, 2019, 5:19 pmNew questions about the known polluter who mishandled hazardous waste long before he was sent to federal prison.

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Crews in Madison Heights are planning to take soil samples to learn more about the green chemical ooze along I-696. Officials feared Sunday rain would make situation worseThe Environmental Protection Agency brought extra crews to Madison Heights to try to prevent the ooze from spreading into the sewer system and Lake St. Clair. It is a major concern city leaders are trying to address in Madison Heights. Everything that I have heard about this chemical is if you touch it, that’s where the concern is," said Madison Heights Mayor Pro Tem, Roslyn Grafstein. We are all watching closely now as we are eager to see what steps are made to clean up this mess at the former Electro-Plating Services building in Madison Heights.