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Submerged Oil A Challenge At Michigan Spill Site

LANSING (AP) - Oil that has settled at the bottom of the Kalamazoo River is the largest cleanup challenge remaining from a southern Michigan spill of more than 800,000 gallons that occurred nearly a year ago.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday that the goal is to re-open part of the affected river segment to recreation this year. Local health officials have said some sections possibly could reopen by mid-to-late August depending on how the cleanup progresses.

About 500 workers are assisting the cleanup.

Enbridge Inc. reported the spill from one of its pipelines on July 26, 2010. About 40 miles of the Kalamazoo River and a nearby creek were affected in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties.

The Enbridge pipeline stretches from Griffith, Ind., to Sarnia, Ontario.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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