EPA Response to Enbridge Spill in Michigan

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EPA Response to Enbridge Spill in Michigan

EPA's Response to the Enbridge Oil Spill

Cleanup by the numbers

1,148,753 gallons of oil collected
187,395 cubic yards soil/debris disposed

From Sept. 29, 2012, Situation Report

Response History

Enbridge Energy Partners LLP (Enbridge) reported a 30-inch pipeline ruptured on Monday, July 26, 2010, near Marshall, Michigan. The release, estimated at 819,000 gallons, entered Talmadge Creek and flowed into the Kalamazoo River, a Lake Michigan tributary. Heavy rains caused the river to overtop existing dams and carried oil 30 miles downstream on the Kalamazoo River.

As the federal agency in charge of the response to the spill, EPA assumed a leadership role in the Unified Command and mobilized an Incident Management Team made up of federal, state and local agencies.

On July 27, the day after the spill was reported, EPA issued a legal order under the authority of the Clean Water Act directing Enbridge to conduct removal actions. EPA also ordered the company to produce documents and information relevant to EPA's investigation into the source, extent and nature of the oil spill.

On July 28, 2010, the spill was contained approximately 80 river miles from Lake Michigan.

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

CHICAGO (Oct. 3, 2012) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today notified Enbridge 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.

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.

On July 26, 2010, Enbridge reported that a 30-inch pipeline ruptured near Marshall, Michigan. 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.