The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is removing hazardous materials from the former EMCO Chemical Inc. facility in Detroit, Michigan. The cleanup is expected to be complete by summer.
During the cleanup, EPA will secure the site to prevent unauthorized entry and conduct air monitoring to protect workers and neighboring communities. Crews will assess the waste to safely dispose and remove emptied containers. Once the hazardous substances are removed, the facility will be restored to pre-removal conditions
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EMCO produced and distributed specialty industrial chemicals until its August 2023 closure. On May 28, 2024, the site was vandalized and a car was set on fire. The fire spread to a building annex, which contained more than 400 55-gallon drums of chemicals.
The Detroit Fire Department extinguished the fire before the drums could ignite.
On May 31, 2024, EPA, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the city assessed the site together. They discovered more than 1,000 55-gallon drums and laboratory samples, several large above-ground storage tanks, and an underground holding tank. EPA testing found several of the drums contained flammable, corrosive, or chlorinated chemicals.
On June 17, 2024, the city sent a letter requesting EPA’s assistance to investigate and remove the hazardous substances. EPA initially worked with EMCO to secure the building, temporarily reinforce the fire-damaged structure, and remove the waste for proper disposal. After EMCO notified EPA it lacked the finances to continue the cleanup, EPA assumed the lead.
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