ANNOUNCEMENTS
AND KEY TOPICS
On
the first week of October 2022, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), began
a property cleanup, known as an emergency response removal, at a former
auto repair shop located at 13200 Joseph Campau Avenue
in Detroit, Michigan.
EPA’s initial screening results
indicated that 16 abandoned 55-gallon drums may contain hazardous waste. In
addition, sampling throughout the building has confirmed the presence of
asbestos-containing materials. EPA is beginning the cleanup immediately because
the former repair shop is close to a school and residences.
UPDATE JANUARY 2023
EPA has completed on-site cleanup activities. We’ve
removed site equipment and have secured the site to prevent unauthorized access
to the property. The cleanup involved:
- Removing asbestos comingled with
building debris from the interior floor
- Removing
asbestos containing thermal system insulation wraps
from overhead pipes
- Preparing over 300 used
tires and miscellaneous small containers for disposal
- Disposing of 160 cubic
yards of asbestos waste in asbestos designated
double lined roll off boxes.
- Collecting and properly
disposing of 1,495 gallons of liquid hazardous waste.
BACKGROUND
The Campau Avenue Drum site is located at
13200 Joseph Campau Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. The site is a commercially
developed lot, approximately half an acre in size, with one building that was previously
used as an auto repair shop. The site is next to Joseph Campau
Avenue to the west,
Dearing Street to the south, Grant Street to the north, and residences to the
east. Across the street on Joseph Campau Avenue there is an elementary school.
The City of
Detroit was planning to demolish the building on the property but referred the
site to EPA after unmarked drums and other containers were found in the
building.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CLEAN UP THE SITE?
At the end of September, EPA conducted
a site assessment (SA) at the site to determine threats to the public health
and the environment. As part of the SA, EPA collected and tested materials suspected
to contain asbestos from the floor of the building. Sampling results confirmed
the presence of asbestos-containing materials. In addition, EPA screened 16 drums and 3 totes within the building. Initial screening results indicated that
the drums and totes may contain hazardous waste.
WHAT IS THE
CURRENT SITE STATUS?
EPA’s
first step is to secure the site with fencing and temporary signs to prevent
unauthorized access to the property. EPA is coordinating with Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE); City of Detroit
Environmental Affairs; Detroit Public School System Department of Environmental
Health and Safety; and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
(MDHHS). EPA is working along with federal, state and local partners to ensure
the safety of those living and working in the area.
If you have technical questions regarding the
cleanup at the site you can contact the EPA’s On-Scene Coordinator, Sean Kane
at 734-214-4897 or kane.sean@epa.gov. For community related questions you can
contact EPA’s Community Involvement Coordinator for the site, Diane Russell at 989-395-3493
or russell.diane@epa.gov.
