vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information
If you have questions, comments or
need more information about the
Enbridge oil spill you can contact:
Don de Blasio
EPA Community
Involvement Coordinator
312-886-4360
deblasio.don@epa.gov
EPA toll-free: 800-621-8431,
9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., weekdays
On the Web
EPA has established a website at
www.epa.gov/enbridgespill to
provide information about the
response.
Internet access is available at your
local libraries:
Marshall District Library
124 W. Green St.
Marshall
Helen Warner Library
36 Minges Creek Place
Battle Creek
Willard Public Library
7 Van Buren St. W.
Battle Creek
More contacts
Public:
EPA Enbridge oil spill tip line -
269-781-1914
EPA toll-free public hotline for this
emergency -
800-306-6837
Cleanup Progress; Plans for
Spring Work
Enbridge Oil Spill
Marshall, Michigan
April 2011
Winter cleanup activities
Over the winter, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality supervised daily cleanup work on
Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River. Cold temperatures solidified the
oily sediment making it easier to remove. The responsible party, Enbridge Oil
Partners LLP, built roads over the frozen ground to reach vulnerable areas that
are more difficult to access in warmer weather.
Work crews removed contaminated soil and sediment at 17 sites along the
Kalamazoo. They also sampled water and sediment for oil and harmful
chemicals such as benzene.
Oil sheens
EPA has received reports of oil sheens at various points along the river. The
Agency is fully aware of these sites and is actively monitoring and evaluating
them. This spring, EPA will consult with the State of Michigan to decide
whether additional cleanup can be done without causing further environmental
damage. Enbridge must clean up and restore all areas affected by its oil spill,
unless it is determined that greater damage would result from cleaning up
small pockets of contamination.
Assessment teams have compiled information about conditions at each
quarter-mile segment of the river affected by the spill. This information along
with maps and cleanup recommendations are on EPA's website.
Work crews removed oil from the frozen Kalamazoo River. Additional cleanup of
last summer's Enbridge oil spill will pick up this spring and continue into the
summer months.
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Environmental experts estimate the ecosystem could
recover in the next two to five years, but future
assessment work will better define the timing of the
recovery. Monitoring and investigations will continue
along the creek and river for the next several years. To
date, tests have shown no ground water contamination.
Ground water is an environmental term for an
underground supply of fresh water. However, the oil
may not have had enough time to infiltrate monitoring
and private wells. In any case, Enbridge is obligated to
evaluate ground water quality and ensure drinking
water supplies are protected.
Spring cleanup activities
After the spring thaw, work crews will replace
containment boom at strategic locations along the
Kalamazoo. Daily operation and maintenance activities
will accelerate. The areas containing submerged oil or
residual oil along riverbanks will be assessed for
possible cleanup. EPA will continue to work closely
with local officials, stakeholders and affected residents.
Reopening the Kalamazoo River
One big decision to be made in late spring or early
summer will be when to reopen the Kalamazoo River
to fishing, boating and other activities. Government
agencies are committed to reopening the river as soon
as possible.
Local authorities, including the health departments of
Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, will decide how and
when to reopen the river or segments of the river. The
river has been closed to recreational and commercial
activity since the spill last summer.
Cold weather solidified the oily sludge and made removal
easier. Water was drained from the frozen mixture before
disposal and in some cases, recovered oil was recycled.
Looking ahead
After the spring rains and floods recede, officials will
investigate how much oil appears to remain in and
around the river and creek. If the effects of the oil spill
appear to be under control, EPA will turn over long-
term cleanup work and monitoring to the State of
Michigan. During the transition, EPA representatives
will remain on-site monitoring conditions.
Enbridge cleanup contractors built roads over frozen ground in
environmentally sensitive areas near Talmadge Creek and the
Kalamaznn River.
By the numbers
Oil/water mixture recovered:
15 million gallons
Oil recovered and recycled:
766,000 gallons
Liquid waste remaining in on-site storage:
14,750 gallons
Soil disposed of off-site:
93,000 cubic yards
Debris disposed of off-site:
3.9 million pounds
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