MoreMore than 800,000 gallons of oil erupted from a 30-inch oil pipeline in Marshall Township, Mich. This tiny community near Battle Creek was warned of the spill and strong odors.
The oil leaked from a piping system that was constructed in 1969 and carries up to 8 million gallons of oil per day from Griffith, Ind. to Sarnia, Ontario. Enbridge Inc., Calgary , Alberta, and their contractors estimated that a total of 819,000 gallons spilled into Talmadge Creek, which empties into the Kalamazoo river, before the flow could be halted. The sticky material has coated birds and other wildlife. Dead fish have been noted floating belly up in the area. While the river ends in Lake Michigan, officials said they do not think the spill will reach that far.
Crews were working to contain and clean the mess. Air, water and soil samples are being collected to provide a picture of what chemical exposures local residents may be exposed to.
Echoing statement heard from BP officials in the Gulf of Mexico, Patrick D. Daniel, Enbridge's president and CEO said, "we are going to do what it takes to make this right."
The spill occurred on Monday, July 26, 2010 and by Tuesday, state officials reported that oil had been spotted 16 miles downstream in the Kalamazoo River. Federal officials have pledged to hold hearings to determine the cause and slow response to this spill.
Also in the news on Tuesday is a report that a tugboat struck a wellhead off the coast of Louisiana, sending oil shooting up to 100 feet into the air. At this time, it is unknown as to who owns the well.
The oil leaked from a piping system that was constructed in 1969 and carries up to 8 million gallons of oil per day from Griffith, Ind. to Sarnia, Ontario. Enbridge Inc., Calgary , Alberta, and their contractors estimated that a total of 819,000 gallons spilled into Talmadge Creek, which empties into the Kalamazoo river, before the flow could be halted. The sticky material has coated birds and other wildlife. Dead fish have been noted floating belly up in the area. While the river ends in Lake Michigan, officials said they do not think the spill will reach that far.
Crews were working to contain and clean the mess. Air, water and soil samples are being collected to provide a picture of what chemical exposures local residents may be exposed to.
Echoing statement heard from BP officials in the Gulf of Mexico, Patrick D. Daniel, Enbridge's president and CEO said, "we are going to do what it takes to make this right."
The spill occurred on Monday, July 26, 2010 and by Tuesday, state officials reported that oil had been spotted 16 miles downstream in the Kalamazoo River. Federal officials have pledged to hold hearings to determine the cause and slow response to this spill.
Also in the news on Tuesday is a report that a tugboat struck a wellhead off the coast of Louisiana, sending oil shooting up to 100 feet into the air. At this time, it is unknown as to who owns the well.
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