The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) requested assistance from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in the investigation and removal of abandoned drums at the site. The presence of hazardous substances existing at the site has been documented in 17 drums and containers. Samples collected document Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) results for tetrachloroethene (PCE) as high as 570 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This result is over 800 times higher than what is considered characteristically hazardous for PCE. Stained soil and stressed vegetation was also observed in the courtyard behind the building.
The site is bordered by industrial, commercial and residential properties. Residential property is located within 50 feet of the site. There is also physical evidence that trespassers have accessed the property. Windows have been broken and bars on one window in the alley were bent allowing access into the building.
