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US Ecology Detroit South, also known as EQ Detroit, Inc.
Contacts
Tianna Kilgore
EGLE Environmental Engineer
KilgoreT@Michigan.gov
517-230-4395
Todd Zynda
EGLE Hazardous Waste Inspector
ZyndaT@Michigan.gov
586-206-1640
Jon Lamb
EGLE Air Quality Division, Senior Environmental Quality Analyst
LambJ1@Michigan.gov
313-348-2527
US Ecology Detroit South (USE-DS) is a hazardous waste storage and treatment site located at 1923 Frederick Street, in Detroit, Michigan (Site). The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) previously licensed the Site for the management of hazardous wastes in 2003, under the operation and ownership of US Liquids, Inc. In 2004, The Environmental Quality Company (EQ) purchased the Site from US Liquids, and US Ecology subsequently acquired EQ in 2014. Following the 2022 takeover, US Ecology and the Site are now under the operation and ownership control of Republic Services.
The Site's hazardous waste operating license issued by EGLE specifies the hazardous waste activities that USE-DS can perform at the Site. The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and the corresponding Michigan hazardous waste regulations specify how the Site must operate to protect human health and the environment. They also identify the authorities that EGLE's Materials Management Division (MMD), has in licensing and overseeing the Site's hazardous waste operations.
Latest News
On July 15, 2024, EGLE and US Ecology entered a Consent Order to resolve violations of state and federal waste regulations. The Consent Order requires US Ecology to pay an upfront penalty of $34,225, an additional $24,307 reimbursement to the state for enforcement costs, and to fund a $927,423 escrow account that will be used to develop supplemental environmental projects to benefit the local community surrounding the facility. The Consent Order also required the facility to repair the Chem-Fix vaults, of which only Vaults 702, 703, and 704 are completed and ready to resume operations. Engineering drawings and specifications surrounding the repairs will be incorporated into the ongoing Hazardous Waste Facility Operating License Renewal Application. Additionally, US Ecology must implement improved waste acceptance and screening procedures, develop a regular groundwater monitoring program, and complete a feasibility study for further air emissions controls as part of the Consent Order settlement.
On August 14, 2023, US Ecology was issued an Enforcement Notice (EN) for violations dating back to April 2020, including the 2022 fire in Vault 703 and the 2023 Chem-Fix shutdown due to structural damage to the waste treatment vaults. In order to resolve the Violation Notices (VN) identified in the EN, US Ecology and EGLE entered into the Consent Order.
Available using the links below are the EN, which includes all the cited VNs as attachments, and the Consent Order.
- July 16, 2024 – Press Release
- July 15, 2024 – Administrative Consent Order
- August 14, 2023 – Enforcement Notice
In order to determine which constituents will need to be tested for as part of the groundwater monitoring program, US Ecology has submitted a Hydrogeological Evaluation Report (Hydro Report) and Expanded Hydrogeological Evaluation Report (Expanded Report) that summarizes the groundwater conditions are the site based on recent investigations. The MMD’s response to the Expanded Report will be released shortly, which identifies concerns from the report including PFAS and additional monitoring and delineation of detected exceedances of applicable criteria. The Hydro Report and Expanded Report are available using the links below.
- April 1, 2024 – US Ecology/GZA Expanded Hydrogeological Evaluation Report
- August 4, 2023 – US Ecology/GZA Hydrogeological Evaluation Report
How to Stay Connected
Complete this form to be placed on the official US Ecology Detroit South facility mailing list to receive updates and notifications from both EGLE and US Ecology Detroit South.
Through your observations and reporting of activities of concern, you play a valuable role in helping the EGLE protect human health and the environment. To file a complaint or share details about improper waste handling or disposal, contact EGLE through the Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS) Hotline at 800-292-4706.