In June 2010, the City of Albion became aware of conditions at Pickens Plating which required attention, including potentially uncontrolled waste, and requested assistance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). The Site is located at 1000 Industrial Boulevard in Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan, 49224, in a mixed residential/industrial/agricultural area. U.S. EPA conducted an assessment at the Site on June 4, 2010. The building at the Site was found to contain uncontrolled hazardous wastes (containers labeled chromic acid, nitric acid,sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydrofluoric acid). Numerous vats, drums, and small containers of various sizes were found opened and unlabeled both inside the buildings and around the grounds. U.S. EPA quantified containers on-site that could potentially contain over 100,000 gallons of uncontrolled and unidentified liquid wastes. Field activities began October 12, 2010 to begin removing the hazardous waste and controlling any potential releases to the environment.
