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Oil Spill in Michigan, Worst in Midwest History, Could Help Strengthen Laws

Submitted by Michigan LCV on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 13:18
photo michigan oil spill bird

A proposal from Sen. Glenn Anderson couldn't have come at a better, or worse, time, for Michigan. Our waters have been fouled by an oil spill that some are already calling the largest in Midwest history, totaling about 1 million gallons. A state of emergency has been declared in Kalamazoo County.

Let's extend that state of emergency to the state, too. Our reliance on fossil fuels comes with many consequences, from pollution that you can't see to oil slicks like this that stink, pollute rivers and harm fish and birds.

Anderson, D-Westland, wants to put three questions on the November 2010 ballot:

  • Ensure that polluters responsible for an oil spill or other environmental damages pay for all cleanup and damage costs, rather than wasting taxpayers’ dollars for cleanups;
  • Permanently ban all oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes, both off-shore drilling and onshore “slant” drilling;
  • Restore the legal rights of Michigan citizens to seek compensation for damage caused by corporate pollution.

One fortunate impact of the spill should be swift action to let voters decide on Anderson's plan. 

“My plan would help protect our Great Lakes, land and water from a disastrous oil spill like this one, and we need to pass it now,” Anderson said.

“Neither the state nor Michigan families can afford to pay for corporate negligence like this, and we need to be sure companies like Enbridge Energy Partners, rather than the state’s taxpayers, are on the hook for costs associated with the ecological and economic damage they cause in our state.”

The Michigan spill happened on Monday, in Calhoun County's Marshall Township, when a pipeline that carries oil from Indiana to Ontario spilled about 840,000 gallons of oil --- equivalent to about 100 tanker trucks --- into Talmadge Creek, which leads to the Kalamazoo River. Houston-based Enbridge Energy Partners was able to shut down the pipeline, but by that time more than 800,000 gallons of oil had flowed into the creek. Authorities and wildlife groups are now working to clean up the spill. 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is posting oil spill updates, and asking people to call (800) 306-6837 to report affected wildlife. 

--- Image Credit: Detroit Free Press slideshow.