The Custom Metal Finishing Site is located at 763 Industrial Park Drive in Shelby, Michigan.  The site building main structure is a warehouse with an office addition. The warehouse contains a plating shop, office, and an additional room.

1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located in an industrial area and is surrounded by an industrial building to the south, a wooded area to the west, a residential building to the north, and Industrial Park Drive to the east. The geographical coordinates for the building are 43.6224 degrees north latitude and 86.3702 degrees west longitude.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

On July 26, 2010, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) received a complaint regarding the abandoned drums at the Custom Metal Finishing Site.  MDEQ staff  inspected the site the next day and confirmed the presence of numerous abandoned drums, vats, and containers inside the building.  MDEQ staff referred the site to its Office of Criminal Investigation (OCI).  MDEQ-OCI conducted a joint criminal investigation in conjunction with U.S. EPA – Criminal Investigation Division.  The criminal investigation was concluded on December 13, 2010 and MDEQ referred the site to U.S. EPA – Emergency Response Branch for assessment and removal. 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The building at the site was found to contain uncontrolled hazardous wastes (including containers labeled hexavalent chromium, cyanide solution, sodium cyanide, muriatic acid, sulfuric acid, and cyanide copper).  Numerous vats, drums, and small containers of various sizes were found opened and unlabeled both inside the buildings and around the grounds.  Eight gasoline containers were observed on-site containing what appeared to be plating waste.  U.S. EPA quantified the containers on-site that included seventy-two 55-gallon drums, seven vats, and multiple other small containers.  Four waste liquid samples were collected yielding pH results that were characteristically hazardous or TCLP levels that were characteristically hazardous according to the characteristic of corrosivity and toxicity as defined by 40 C.F.R. § 261.22 and 261.24.

During the week of December 12, 2011 ERRS mobilized crew and equipment and set up a new decontamination line and support area. The crew cleared hazardous and non-hazardous debris from inside of the facility. The waste management approval for empty containers, debris and remains of the cut up tires was finalized for Autumn Hills in Zeeland, Michigan. During this week, Hazcat data was reviewed for the development of waste groupings and drums were marked to designate each hazard. ERRS consolidated compatible waste containers once the wastes were grouped. Empty containers were demolished and rinsed out. The crew cleaned out the semi-trailer in the rear of the facility, removed poly liners from vats and cut up debris filled drums within the facility. Cyanide drums and small containers were sorted and segregated. On December 15, 2011 three 30 yd³ non-hazardous roll-offs (Manifests # WMN AT3 9857, WMN AT3 9859, and WMN AT3 9858) were transported to Autumn Hills and one 25 yd³ hazardous roll-off (Manifest # 009 230 621 JJK) was transported to PSC Detroit for disposal. ERRS chemist collected composite waste characterization samples to be delivered to be analyzed by a lab.