Company pitches in to clean up animals in Kalamazoo River

Dish soap, gloves and cleaning supplies have been donated by Spartan Stores to help clean animals caught in the oil spill in Kalamazoo River.

Store employees, under the supervision of local veterinarians, also joined in the effort to clean animals.

All wildlife clean up must be done under the direct supervision of trained professionals, says Tom Tidwell, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife. It can be dangerous to both those doing the cleaning and animals they are trying to help. Cleaning animals without supervision may be against the law.

The cleanup became necessary after a 30-inch oil pipeline in Marshall, Mich., sprung a leak Monday, July 26. It released oil into the Talmadge Creek, which feeds into the Kalamazoo River.

Pipeline owner Enbridge Energy Partners shut down the pipeline and isolation valves were closed off after the leak was discovered. At least 1 million gallons had already flowed into the creek. The underground pipeline moves light synthetic, heavy and medium crude oil northeast about 1,900 miles from Alberta, through the U.S. Midwest and back into Canada via Sarnia, Ontario.

In the days to come, the EPA had oversight of the deployment of more than 91,665 feet of boom in 37 containment locations.

The oil flow was stopped and contained in a 25-mile stretch of the river from Marshall westward past Battle Creek. Officials have stopped the contaminants at the Morrow Dam in Comstock Township, east of Kalamazoo.

More than 700 people are working on the river. The number of gallons of oil and water removed from the site has continued to rise as the clean up has progressed.

Spartan Stores, with locations across Southwest Michigan, also donated hot dogs, grills, and additional volunteers to help feed the workers.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Spartan Stores, Tom Tidwell, U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife