Congresswoman Tlaib Requests EPA Investigation of Potentially Hazardous Site in Detroit

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) sent a letter to administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Andrew Wheeler, requesting additional assistance in light of potentially hazardous material found in the city of Detroit within her district. The site is owned by Gary Sayers, who also owns the Electro-Plating Services building in Madison Heights. Hazardous materials found in the Madison Heights building has been found to be the cause of green ooze found seeping out onto Interstate 696 in Oakland County.

The letter comes after officials say they have found open pits of green and red liquid at the Detroit location located at 5900 Commonwealth Street.

“According to media reports, multiple pits of colorful liquid, assumed to be hazardous, have been found at the Commonwealth Industries building at 5900 Commonwealth in Detroit,” Rep. Tlaib said in the letter. “This is in addition to what EPA regional officials have called an “unprecedented” level of hazardous waste mismanagement by Mr. Sayers over a period of more than 50 years, including a callous mishandling of dangerous sodium cyanide, trichloroethylene, and hexavalent chromium. EPA has conducted emergency clean-ups at Mr. Sayers’ Electro-Plating Services property before, and I am requesting that EPA offer emergency clean-up assistance to the state of Michigan for the building at 5900 Commonwealth in Detroit given its close proximity to homes and the Henry Ford Medical Center.”

The a PDF of the full letter can be viewed here.

Congresswoman Tlaib continues to be in contact with environmental and safety officials on the municipal, state, and federal levels about this site. She also continues to push for transparency and accountability when it comes to corporate polluters.

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