Pipeline company offers to buy up to 200 homes in area affected by oil spill in Michigan river

Pipeline firm offers to buy homes near Mich. spill

DETROIT — A company whose pipeline ruptured and dumped hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil into a southern Michigan waterway has offered to buy up to 200 homes in the affected area.

Enbridge Inc. chief executive Patrick Daniel said Tuesday the Canadian company will buy homes for sale before last month’s spill at their full list prices. It also will buy other homes in the 30-mile-long zone at their appraised values before the spill.

Daniel told reporters the idea came from residents’ concerns their homes were losing value. The company says it believes the homes have retained their value and the offer should keep speculators out.

The oil flow has been stopped and government officials say it’s been contained in a stretch of river from Marshall westward past Battle Creek.