Oil spill cleanup on Kalamazoo River continues a year later

[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.

[Bozita]

1. The Detnews story doesn't seem to mention the heavy metals problem..

After Kalamazoo river oil spill, heavy metal levels rise
By Todd A. Heywood | 07.20.11 | 9:39 am | More from The Michigan Messenger


Levels of heavy metals have increased in water samples being conducted along the Kalamazoo River and Talmadge Creek nearly a year after an oil pipeline ruptured in the area spewing an estimated one million gallons of oil into the waterways.

Enbridge Energy Partners admitted in August of last year that the Lakehead Pipeline 6B was filled with a thick oil extract known as tar sands oil. The oil is found in hardened forms, and is removed from the ground by injecting steam into the ground to melt the oil. The oil then is mixed with chemicals to thin it out in order to pump it through pipelines. Tar sands oil contain much higher levels of heavy metals than conventional crude.

In late August, 2010 EPA officials confirmed water samples were producing slight detection of both mercury and nickel — common heavy metal contaminates of tar sands oil. EPA said then the levels were nothing to be concerned about.

On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced it had been detecting several heavy metals and other contaminates at levels above what are considered safe.

more...
http://washingtonindependent.com/113296/after-kalamazoo-river-oil-spill-heavy-metal-levels-rise

[juajen]

2. What oil company is responsible?