Two Macomb County business owners have been sentenced following a chemical spill incident that caused Bear Creek in Warren to turn bright blue. Owners Saad Somo, 50, and Marvan Talal-Razooqi Batoo, 40, faced multiple charges, including operating a hazardous waste facility without a license and attempted violation of water resources protection laws. They both entered no contest pleas to these misdemeanors in Warren's 37th District Court last Thursday, as reported by The Detroit News.
The charges stemmed from an incident on February 7, 2024, when a construction worker noticed the unnatural coloration of the creek near an industrial facility owned by Somo and Batoo, which led to an investigation and identification of the source. The property, formerly housing Fini-Finish Metal Finishing, contained electroplating chemicals that were improperly disposed of after the building's unheated conditions caused water lines to freeze and break, as detailed by ClickOnDetroit. Despite the risks posed by such negligent actions, the pair have avoided probation but were ordered to pay fines, costs, and a special assessment totaling $3,500 each by Judge John M. Chmura.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the men's cooperation with environmental agencies mitigated the potential financial burden on taxpayers, ultimately footing the bill for more than $172,000 in spill remediation costs. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, which contributed to the investigation along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, agreed to the plea after the active collaboration by Somo and Batoo in the cleanup efforts.
"Reckless handling of hazardous chemicals poses a serious threat to both public health and our environment," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido told the Detroit Free Press. In his statement, he emphasized the commitment of his office in prosecuting environmental crimes, and while acknowledging the danger, Lucido also noted, "In this case, the defendants took responsibility by cleaning up the contamination they caused. Their cooperation and remediation efforts spared taxpayers the burden of cleanup costs and were appropriately considered in the resolution of the charges."
Investigations conducted shortly after the spill by EGLE and the EPA found no immediate human health risks associated with the contamination and determined that drinking water supplies were not affected. However, concerns persisted regarding the potential impact on aquatic life in the creek, as noted in statements from the county prosecutor and reflected in the swift response efforts by environmental authorities.
