Oil spill cleanup on Kalamazoo River continues a year later [View All]

[Bozita]

Source: Detroit News

Last Updated: July 23. 2011 1:00AM
Oil spill cleanup on Kalamazoo River continues a year later
River still shows damage from Enbridge pipe rupture
Jim Lynch/ The Detroit News


Marshall — A year after the worst spill in Michigan's history, pockets of oil contamination remain along a 40-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River, and that is still closed to the public.

Tuesday marks the one-year anniversary of the underground oil line rupture in Marshall Township that sent 800,000-plus gallons of crude into the surrounding area and, eventually, the river. Oil flowed west down the river, causing problems for a string of communities including Ceresco, Battle Creek, Galesburg, Augusta and Kalamazoo. It brought thousands of local, county, state, federal and privately contracted cleanup workers to the region and drastically altered the way of life for many.

After 12 months of work, isolated problems remain and it's unclear if the river will reopen before the end of the summer. Residents have pulled up stakes and sold their homes to pipeline owner Enbridge Inc. rather than remain in the midst of the cleanup work. Thousands of animals had to be captured, cleaned and released after coming into contact with the oil.

And to outsiders, this area has become synonymous with the spill.

Read more: http://detnews.com/article/20110723/METRO/107230346/Oil-spill-cleanup-on-Kalamazoo-River-continues-a-year-later#ixzz1SwNXwGRH

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I'm betting the folks along the Yellowstone River are paying attention to this story.