Company at center of Mich. oil cited for problems

By TIM MARTIN and DAVID RUNK Associated Press Writers

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (AP) - A Canadian company at the center of a huge oil spill in Michigan has a history of pipeline problems, including leaks, an explosion and dozens of regulatory violations.

Enbridge Inc. or its affiliates have been cited for 30 enforcement actions since 2002 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The agency is the U.S. Department of Transportation's regulatory arm.

The agency told Enbridge in January that it may have violated safety codes by improperly monitoring corrosion in the pipeline responsible for Monday's spill. Oil flowed into the Kalamazoo River, which eventually connects to Lake Michigan.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates the spill at more than 1 million gallons, but Enbridge's estimate is about 820,000 gallons.