Investigators with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan officials are looking into a spill at the former Fini Finish Metal Finishing plant in Warren.
EPA officials said on February 7, a water line in the former Fini Finish Metal Finishing electroplating shop broke, causing about 580,000 gallons of water to flood the shop located at Mound Rd. in Warren.
“As a result, potential electroplating chemicals may have entered into storm sewers that flow into Bear Creek,” the U.S. EPA says.
On February 8, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) requested EPA support. EPA says it arrived on-scene that afternoon and began collecting samples of the plating chemicals at the shop and samples of surface water and sediment in the creek to determine if the material contains hazardous substances.
“Cleanup efforts are currently underway to jet the storm sewers using vacuum trucks,” the U.S. EPA says.
It is unclear when the shop closed, but records show it is owned by Ronald Borawski and Frank Borawski, who also owned Arted Chrome Plating on Piquette Avenue in Detroit. That shop is also apparently closed, and in 2017, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality began enforcement actions against the company for violations of chrome emission standards. Arted Chrome Plating is now listed as a Superfund Site on the U.S. EPA site.
According to a former website of Fini Finish Metal Finishing, the company began in 1946 and offered “custom plating and restoration.” It also says, “Fini Finish Products announces the expansion of services for the Rapid Prototype Industry.”
From the EPA: Morning Site Update Feb. 9
Overnight, work continued to clean 800 feet of the impacted storm sewer along Mound Road. This morning, the storm sewer will be plugged on Mound Road while the cleanup moves to the storm sewer area adjacent to the plating shop to ensure no debris from the plating shop enters the cleaned sewer. The company's contractor installed equipment, also known as pom-poms, into the creek to help knock down agitated sediment in Bear Creek. The company will also begin foam recovery in the creek.
Yesterday, EPA collected samples from inside the facility, storm sewer, and surface water and sediment from Bear Creek. The agency anticipate results later this afternoon that will be posted to the website.
Yesterday, EPA conducted air monitoring inside the facility. Results showed no exceedances. EPA continues to coordinate with EGLE, Macomb County and the city of Warren. EPA is working with the potentially responsible party that has been responsive and cooperative.
