Nikki Skuce, ForestEthics Senior Energy Campaigner comments on Enbridge's denial of responsibility for Michigan Oil Spill
February 1st, 2011
Despite promises from the company and the CEO himself that impacted residents would be compensated, the Calgary-based pipeline company is now trying to lawyer themselves out of responsibility. Enbridge is currently denying responsibility to Michigan residents impacted by their massive oil spill last summer where over 3 million litres of crude oil spilled into the Kalamazoo river, disrupting businesses and putting the community's health at risk*.
“When the spill is in the media spotlight, oil companies will promise the world,” said Nikki Skuce, ForestEthics. “As soon as costs start mounting and the spotlight begins to dim, they put the onus on stressed out, vulnerable residents to prove their liability."
"It's absolutely appalling and repulsive that Enbridge made promises they were planning to break this entire time. Why should we trust them and allow them and their oil spills into beautiful British Columbia?"
"With Enbridge approaching their insurance cap for coverage of the clean-up, this push-back on their responsibilities is only likely to increase."
"Enbridge was slow to react when they spilled nearly a million gallons of crude oil into our communities along the Kalamazoo River last summer. The company has made many promises that they’ve failed to keep in the clean-up process,” said Beth Wallace, who grew up in Battle Creek and now works with the National Wildlife Federation. “If I lived in the mountainous regions of Northern British Columbia, I would not trust that Enbridge, or any other company, could build these pipelines safely.”
*http://michiganmessenger.com/46106/enbridge-denies-responsibility-for-oil-spill
