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SCHOOL CLOSINGS

TOXIC OOZE

Eastbound I-696 ramp to Couzens closing Monday for toxic green ooze cleanup

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.

EPA hands over control of toxic ooze site in Madison Heights to state regulators

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.

Hank Winchester confronts building owner at center of Madison Heights toxic ooze case

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.

Court battle over toxic ooze site in Metro Detroit turns heated

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.

Owner of toxic green ooze site in new legal battle over Detroit property

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.