EPA: More Work Needed to Clean up Enbridge Oil Spill in Kalamazoo River

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified Enbridge Energy Partners that more work is needed in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River to clean up oil from the company’s pipeline spill in July 2010. EPA is proposing further action upstream of Ceresco Dam, upstream of the Battle Creek Dam (Mill Ponds area), and in the delta upstream of Morrow Lake.

On July 26, 2010, Enbridge reported that a 30-inch pipeline ruptured near Marshall, Mich. Heavy rains caused the river to overtop existing dams and carried oil 30 miles downstream before the spill was contained. So far, oil spill response workers have collected over 1.1 million gallons of oil and almost 200,000 cubic yards of oil-contaminated sediment and debris from the Kalamazoo River system.

Enbridge has 10 days to request a conference with EPA to discuss the additional work specified in the proposed order and 30 days to submit written comments. EPA’s prior orders directing Enbridge to complete other cleanup and restoration work in the Kalamazoo River system remain in effect.

EPA has launched a Web site to report on Enbridge’s cleanup efforts.