October 2003
Final Phase of Clean-up at Master Metals Begins
Chicago, IL— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 has signed an agreement with a group of responsible parties to
address the final phase of a lead contamination cleanup in Detroit’s
Krainzwood neighborhood.
Under the agreement, the companies will voluntarily
excavate contaminated soil from at least 69 residential properties. The
work is expected to begin in late September. The companies will also pay
for the cleanup now under way at the former Master Metals property at
4700 E. Nevada St.
The agreement took effect on August 22. Called an administrative
order on consent, it was signed by EPA and a group of six companies previously
identified by the agency as responsible for lead contamination at Master
Metals. Under the agreement, the parties Daimler/Chrysler, Ford, General
Motors, Honeywell, Johnson Controls and NL Corp., will pay about $3.7
million. This includes about $2.5 million in costs related to the residential
areas cleanup and about $1.2 million to address the Master Metals property.
Since March, EPA has collected more than 600 soil samples
from the neighborhood near the site, including residential yards, the
Atkinson Elementary School, a park next to the school and a housing complex.
As a result, 69 residential properties have been identified for cleanups
that include excavation of soil with lead levels at or above 400 parts
per million, backfill with clean soil and restoration of landscaping.
In addition to the homes, two areas in the housing complex will be cleaned.
Other homes have yet to be sampled. EPA expects the responsible parties
to contact these property owners and follow up with cleanups where lead
levels exceed 400 ppm.
At the Master Metals property, the current and final
phase of cleanup is nearly complete. In September, Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality is expected to begin demolition of the building
at the site.
After the demolition, the responsible parties will remove
any remaining contaminated soil. Grass will then be planted on the site,
with MDEQ assuming ownership of the property.
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