October 8th, 2010
02:20 PM ET

Oil spill closes Lake Huron beach in Michigan

An oil spill has prompted the state of Michigan to close a beach in a state park on Lake Huron.

The day use beach at Cheboygan State Park is closed until further notice because of oil on a 250-yard stretch of the beach, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced.
"Crews are working to clean up the beach and determine the source of the spill," the department's website said.

Private citizens complained to state and federal agencies after discovering the oil on the beach and sheen on the water Tuesday, the National Wildlife Federation said.

The shoreline is home to threatened species including the black tern, pitcher's thistle and dwarf lake iris, the wildlife federation said.

"With the Cheboygan State Park in close proximity to the Straits of Mackinac, this disaster has potential to be far reaching," said Beth Wallace, the federation's Great Lakes oil spill response coordinator.

The spill comes on the heels of a pipeline break in July that spilled nearly 1 million gallons of heavy crude into the Kalamazoo River on the other side of the state. The Kalamazoo River is a major tributary to Lake Michigan.

"We've already seen the devastating effects the Enbridge pipeline oil spill had on the Kalamazoo River and nearby towns," Wallace said. "The last thing Michigan needs is an oil spill in the Great Lakes."

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Filed under: Environment • Michigan • U.S.
soundoff (7 Responses)
  1. Lois Monfils

    Give Rick Sanchez back us. Who is perfect?

    October 8, 2010 at 3:21 pm | Report abuse |
    • Wireless.Phil

      I think there is more to the story behind Rick Sanchez than they are telling us.

      On 6-19-2009
      Between 7:20 & 7:22 that morning, the CNN reported (John Roberts, anchor on American Morning) may have not known his mic was open?

      CNN was on, I'm on the PC, I thought I heard him say~

      ""Why the F#%k does it say Myrtle Beach?""

      Thinking I actually heard that, I turned and looked at the TV and seen the photo of the bridge.

      Then, he said it again...

      ""Why the F#%k does it say Myrtle Beach?""

      The other reported asked, ""Are you aloud to say that on TV?""

      Well they gave a light apology and continued with the news.

      I don't care what he said, but I was a bit surprised; but some will care and will complain. We'll see how many complain to the FCC (what the fine will be) and if he has a job on Monday?

      October 9, 2010 at 11:07 pm | Report abuse |
  2. :::::::::::::::::::: www.DomainersGate.com ::::::::::::::::::::

    .
    .
    Black Planet – Oil Only Ocean – http://x.co/43jH

    October 8, 2010 at 7:30 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Wireless.Phil

    This one happened recently in Ohio an the creek connects to the Ohio Rover threatening the Hellbender Salamander, an endangered species.

    Slurry spill has left trail of death in Ohio creek, Coal-mine waste escapes broken pipe
    Thursday, October 7, 2010 02:54 AM

    The sludge killed more than 3,500 fish and about 850 animals, said Mike Shelton, a spokesman for Natural Resources, which is investigating the spill with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

    October 9, 2010 at 11:16 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Name*

    I think the government is doing all of this....... think about it. One oil spill after......all of a sudden. What is this world coming to.

    October 9, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Report abuse |
  5. ...---...

    Phytoremediation might help. (Sunflowers seem to be popular for taking toxins out, not sure about oil though. Cornell might know.) But, please plant more trees...everybody plant more trees.

    October 10, 2010 at 2:19 am | Report abuse |
  6. joe

    Wireless.Phil
    aloud is allowed... look it up before looking stupid on the internet..please...

    October 10, 2010 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
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