Officials: Barrels of oil likely dumped in road to avoid disposals fees
The Washtenaw County Hazmat crew cleans up grease and motor oil from one of two 55-gallon barrels dumped near Munger and Bemis roads Wednesday evening.
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Hazmat
The barrels of oil dumped along roadways in Augusta and Pittsfield townships Wednesday were probably discarded so the suspect or suspects could avoid disposal fees, officials said.
Vic Chevrette, who heads up the Hazmat crew in Washtenaw County, said there was a similar incident in Exeter Township in Monroe County recently.
Gunk spills out of a barrel on Munger Road Wednesday.
Courtesy of Washtenaw County Hazmat
Most of the material the Hazmat crews cleaned up in the two incidents Wednesday night was used motor oil, which can be recycled for free with a $3 entry fee at the Washtenaw County Regional Drop Off station, located at 2950 East Ellsworth Road in Ann Arbor.
The two incidents are still under investigation by the Michigan State Police and Pittsfield police, as well as the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
Five 55-gallon plastic drums of used motor oil were left near Macey and Bunton roads in Augusta Township. They were discovered about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. Later that afternoon, two more 55-gallon barrels filled with used motor oil and grease were dumped near Munger and Bemis roads in Pittsfield Township.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
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Comments
Kai Petainen
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 10:15 p.m.
Michigan police investigate this but not when it goes in huron river. What a hypocrisy. According to uofm police oil spills into huron river are non criminal. so why are police investigating when they never cared about spill in huron.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 3:34 a.m.
good eye alex,i bet that truck can be found at a car wash!
Alex Nickodemus
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:01 p.m.
That looks more like car-wash pit sludge, which is VERY expensive to get rid of due to the HAZMAT disposal fees.
Robert Granville
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.
It doesn't even cost any money to dispose at an auto parts shop... come on!
UtrespassM
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
This guy may operate an oil change business without a licence.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:28 p.m.
according to their website only 5 gallons is free. After that its .25 a gallon. So 2 55 gallon drums is closer to $30 than $3.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.
http://www.recycleannarbor.org/?module=Page&sID=drop-off-station-whats-accepted
Veracity
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:20 p.m.
XMO is calling for federal help? I would not believe it if it were not in print. It must be sarcasm as I am sure that XMO does not consider these dumpings as intended domestic terrorism. It appears that local HAZMAT can handle the situations but the cost is certainly more than the $3 admission charge to the recycle center.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
this is what happens when you charge $3 to access the dump.(having it open every other day doesnt help either)
C.C. Ingersoll
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.
Then pay more taxes. The recycling center charges entry fees and disposal fees because there isn't enough in the city budget to fund a full-time operation of the facility.
mixmaster
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
Get rid of all toxic waste dumping regulations so they can dump it for free anywhere they want. It's those pesky regulations that are holding back free enterprise.
Machine
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
I don't envy the hazmat guys wearing those suits in this unbearable weather we've been having lately.
Fat Bill
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 9:53 a.m.
Usher Oil is another company that will pick it up and pay you for it ..especially in larger quantities. Auto parts stores like O'Reilley's that sell oil will take household quantities for free as well.
arborani
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:39 a.m.
". . . probably discarded so the suspect or suspects could avoid disposal fees" Ya think?
jweaverA2
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 11:07 p.m.
This is amazing! Right now my business is getting paid for used oil. One call to Safety-Kleen and they would be glad to collect it. Talk about a senseless crime!
Subroutine
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 10:06 p.m.
If you're going to do something like this, why dump it over? At least just leave it and not make someone have to clean up the mess.
xmo
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:27 p.m.
Sounds like an act of Enviromental Terrorism! Where is Homeland Security? Come "Big Sis", help us out?
SemperFi
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:50 a.m.
Maybe one of the benevolent energy companies will come and help clean up their product.
KINGofSKA
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:24 p.m.
Great solution! Help destroy the environment so we can save three dollars. I love how some people think.
snapshot
Sat, Jul 28, 2012 : 3:06 a.m.
So King, how much do you think this clean up cost? A2 use to pick used oil up for residents now it's 3 bucks and has to be transported by vehicle to a specific location. I don't think it's a matter of keeping the lights on and the policy is much more harmful to the environment but easier for bureacrats.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 2:22 p.m.
my gut says the 3 bucks wasn't the issue with these guys. I would think either they were't aware they could dispose of the stuff for 3 bucks or they didn't care.
KINGofSKA
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:22 p.m.
@snapshot I'm sure most people that take oil there can afford $3. I bet that $3 helps to keep the lights running.
snapshot
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 5:45 a.m.
So why do they charge 3 dollars? The cities and counties should provide residents free disposal. It would be much cheaper for taxpayers. You're thought process is confusing.