Oil pipeline leak pollutes major Michigan river

By TIM MARTIN Associated Press Writer

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) - Southern Michigan is learning that devastating oil spills aren't limited to the Gulf Coast.

Crews were working Wednesday to clean up an estimated 877,000 gallons of oil that coated birds and fish as it poured from a pipeline leak into the Kalamazoo River.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm toured the area by helicopter Tuesday night and said more resources are needed. The river eventually flows into Lake Michigan, but officials don't believe oil will seep that far.

Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge Inc.'s affiliate Enbridge Energy Partners LP of Houston owns the pipeline. Its chief executive says "we're going to clean it up."

The pipeline carries about 8 million gallons of oil daily from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario.