Congressman says Enbridge waited to report oil pipeline break in southern Michigan

Congressman says Enbridge violated oil spill rules

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — A congressman says the company at the center of an oil spill in southern Michigan waited to report the pipeline break, violating federal rules.

Michigan Democrat Mark Schauer said Wednesday that Enbridge Inc. did not file a report about the release until two hours after the Canadian company started laying boom material to contain the oil on July 26. Federal rules require pipeline operators to report spills of more than 5 gallons of hazardous liquids “at the earliest practicable moment.”

Schauer also believes the leak began the night before.

Enbridge says it was well within federal reporting requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency has said the leak spewed more than 1 million gallons into the Kalamazoo River and tributaries.