MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — On Tuesday, Judge Hala Jarbou, of Oakland County’s Circuit Court continued to hear arguments as to whether Gary Sayers should be forced to pay to demolish his buildings in Madison Heights.
His business Electro-Plating Service is the source of the toxic green ooze seen flowing onto I-696 in Madison Heights in December.
While the EPA works to clean up hexavalent chromium and other toxic chemicals, he is in federal prison serving a one year sentence for illegally storing hazardous waste.
In court the City of Madison Heights showed video recorded in 2017 during a sewer inspection. It found the concrete sewer pipe corroded away underneath his building.
They notice with hindsight that the drain is stained green, the color of that hexavalent chromium.
The city’s director of public services testified he believes toxic chemicals dumped illegally by Sayers ate through concrete, destroying the pipe.
The City of Madison Heights has sued saying the building needs to be torn down so the land can be decontaminated. Sayers says it does not.
The trial continues on Wednesday afternoon.
