Making things right: A Marshall response timeline

July 26 to 29
/2010

Enbridge’s response team grows from 50 to 450 people, who have deployed more than 12,000 feet of containment boom and another 8,000 feet of absorption boom along an impacted area of 40 river miles. Despite high water conditions caused by heavy rains, which have more than doubled the impacted area to 4,430 acres, the spill is contained to Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River through the use of 14 skimmers, 43 vacuum trucks, excavators, tanker trucks and other equipment. A joint incident command system is established with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), to enhance rapid deployment of resources.

July
/2010

Enbridge provides temporary accommodations for any residents who need them, and establishes community centers in both Marshall and Battle Creek for residents who need help.

August 1
/2010

A wildlife rehabilitation center is established to clean, rehabilitate and provide medical care for birds and wildlife impacted by the oil spill. The first rehabilitated birds, seven mallard ducks and 11 Canada geese, are released back into the wild Aug. 11 at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at Augusta, MI.

August
/2010

Enbridge also begins a claims process, including a property purchase program along Talmadge Creek and Kalamazoo River, for residents directly impacted by the release. The program will end in a year’s time with Enbridge having purchased 154 residential properties.

December 2011 to February 2012

During winter and early spring, Enbridge completes the remediation of a number of smaller Kalamazoo River overbank sites, as well as affected areas along Talmadge Creek.

April
/2012

The first portion of the Kalamazoo River, a three-mile section from Perrin Dam to Saylor’s Landing, opens for recreational use.

May
/2012

The Michigan Department of Community Health reports no human health concerns with the Kalamazoo River.

June
/2012

The remaining portions of the Kalamazoo River and Morrow Lake open for recreational use. Calhoun County lifts its ban on fish consumption and the use of surface waters for irrigation, livestock and recreation.

July
/2012

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) releases the results of its investigation into the Line 6B release.

Late 2012 to early 2014

Enbridge replaces all 285 miles of Line 6B, from northwest Indiana to southeast Michigan, as part of the Line 6B Maintenance and Rehabilitation Project.

October
/2013

Enbridge, the Calhoun Conservation District, and the Kalamazoo River Community Recreational Foundation announce that five Kalamazoo River access sites that Enbridge has either developed or enhanced—Saylor’s Landing, Angler’s Bend, Paddler’s Grove, Ceresco Dam and Calhoun County Historic Bridge Park—will be maintained in perpetuity for the benefit of the community.

Spring
/2014

The remediation process continues with removal of the Ceresco Dam, which helps the Kalamazoo River flow more naturally and boosts the river’s long-term health by enhancing diversity for fish and aquatic wildlife. Site restoration work is completed in late 2014.

May
/2015

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Michigan DEQ director Dan Wyant announce a US$75-million settlement with Enbridge to finalize cleanup and restoration requirements. As part of the settlement, Enbridge will provide at least 300 acres of permanent wetland through restoration or creation, and continue monitoring, restoring and carrying out invasive species control within state-regulated wetlands affected by the Line 6B release

June
/2015

Enbridge agrees to a $3.9-million settlement with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Natural Resources Damage Assessment and Restoration program (NRDAR).