The oil spill in Marshall that dumped over one million gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River has been contained, reported the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this week, but cleanup will likely take months. Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties have not yet lifted restrictions on the river area: signs are posted along the riverbanks prohibiting all swimming, boating and fishing; the water is not to be used for irrigation or water for animals; and residents are still encouraged to stay away from the area as much as possible due to benzene levels in the air. For area dog owners, this may mean finding a new place for daily walks or even boarding the dog elsewhere until the restrictions are lifted. The 61 homes surrounding the original spill area are still under a voluntary evacuation order.
The Michigan Department of Community Health has posted a fishing and swimming advisory for the Kalamazoo River area west of I-69 to the western edge of Morrow lake. MDCH advises avoiding consumption of any fish from the area that are oily or have an oily odor, and refraining from swimming in the River in the affected area. Residents who do come into contact with the oil are advised to thoroughly wash the affected skin with soap and water, and to see their doctor if they have any health concerns. Pet owners should avoid the water and the shoreline, and contact their veterinarians if any oil gets on their pets.
On Tuesday, Enbridge Energy Partners, the company responsible for the spill, announced its offer to buy up to 200 homes in the oil spill area. This offer includes the 61 homes in the immediate area, and homes up to 30 miles downstream from the spill that are within 200 feet of the Kalamazoo River. The company will pay listed price for homes that were for sale before the spill, and pre-spill appraised value for all other homes. Like most of Michigan, home prices in Marshall have been declining over the last few years; some residents are concerned that the recent oil spill could lead to further significant decreases in their property values for the next several years.
For more information:
Michigan Oil Spill Affects Residents and Dogs
State of Michigan Oil Spill News and Updates
Kalamazoo County Oil Spill Information
Calhoun County Oil Spill Information
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The Center for Public Integrity reported on its website Tuesday that the Coast Guard's failure to follow its own firefighting policy during the Deepwater Horizon explosion and fire may have contributed to the sinking of the oil rig.
US Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry was in charge of the gulf when the rig went down last April ! Lets get some answers from Congress !
How odd was it that Mary Landry was also in charge of the April 2003 oil spill in Buzzards Bay. On April 27, 2003, Bouchard Barge 120 hit an obstacle in Buzzards Bay, creating a 12-foot rupture in its hull and discharging an estimated 98,000 gallons of No. 6 oil. The oil is known to have affected an estimated 90 miles of shoreline
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