USCG, Enbridge to Conduct Oil Spill Response Exercise

The Coast Guard 9th District, partner agencies, and Enbridge Energy Limited Partnership will conduct a full-scale oil spill response exercise in Indian River, Michigan, Wednesday.

More than 200 participants from the Coast Guard; Enbridge; the Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet County Office of Emergency Management; Michigan Department of Environmental Quality; and the Environmental Protection Agency, will participate in the exercise, which simulates a breach in Enbridge’s Line 5 and a worst-case discharge of light crude oil.   

Participating agencies spent 18 months planning the exercise, which tests booming strategies to validate existing oil spill response plans. The exercise is part of regularly scheduled planning efforts between the Coast Guard and industry, as directed by the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Guidelines.

Who:  Coast Guard, Enbridge Pipelines, Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Michigan State Police and Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet County Office of Emergency Management.
What:  Full-scale oil spill response exercise
Where: Parking and check-in at Cross in the Woods Church, 7078 Michigan 68, Indian River MI  49749
Exercise activities to occur at various locations throughout Indian River, MI
When: Wed., Sept. 17, 2014. Media shuttle to four exercise locations at 8 a.m. Exercise runs between 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m
 

Media interested in attending should contact the Coast Guard 9th District Public Affairs Office at 216-902-6020 by 12 p.m., Tuesday.