The City of Detroit announced Friday it is taking action to address concerns raised last year regarding the failure of Den-Man Contractors, Inc, to document the origin of fill material used at 200 residential demolitions in 2017-18.
After a year of rigorous sampling and testing of 147 of the sites by independent environmental experts, coordinated by the Environmental Affairs Section of the City’s Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department, the City is able to move forward with a solution.
At 87 of the sites, testing found levels of arsenic, lead or other substances above statewide naturally occurring levels and in exceedance of contractual standards for direct contact. To remedy this, the City plans to remove existing fill material from the sites and replace that fill with appropriate material from a verified approved source. Under the City’s demolition program, fill material must be provided from an approved source and must be properly documented to be used at any demolition site to ensure that the City’s standards are met.
According to City of Detroit officials, planning for the remediation work will begin immediately and work is expected to begin the first week of August and be completed in November. Work is expected to begin first at 74 lots that currently are City or Detroit Land Bank Authority owned. At the same time, private owners of the remaining 13 lots will be offered the opportunity to grant the City permission to remove and replace the fill material on their lot at no cost to the owner. Work on those lots will begin as soon as approval is granted by the owner.
All excavated sites will be restored according to City standards, including grass seed and straw. Precautionary fencing installed last year will be removed from all sites where testing determined the material to be within contractual standards for direct contact.
About Post Author
