In February 2021, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency completed a six week time-critical removal at Metals Processing Inc., a
former metal processing facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Work included
dismantling former process line structures and collecting, packaging and
disposing of abandoned hazardous materials and wastes. The hazardous materials
included corrosive and flammable materials as well as materials containing
lead, chromium and cyanide. A total of 102 cubic yards of solid and 1,670
gallons of liquid hazardous materials were secured and shipped to an approved
off-site disposal facility.
In 2020, Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources sent a request for removal assistance with the site. WDNR indicated
that they did not believe that the current property owner had ability to pay
for a cleanup and that the previous tenant was bankrupt. EPA conducted an
investigation at the site that identified toxic (chromium, lead, and cyanide),
flammable and corrosive materials. These materials were left haphazardly in
open pits and containers with signs of spillage. The EPA determined that
conditions at the site posed a threat to public health or welfare, and the
environment.
Metal Processing Inc., located at 3257 North
32nd Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operated from 2008 to 2016, conducted metal
processing services, including casting cleaning, chemical stripping, and media
blasting. WDNR first became aware of the current building conditions building
when they were contacted by the current owner’s son. The son informed the WDNR
that the previous tenants of the building left the building in a state of
disrepair and abandoned waste at the site. The building owner and his sons had
gotten a quote for disposal of the waste and it exceeded their resources to
conduct the cleanup.
