Oil spill in Northern Michigan wetlands was 4 times larger than first estimated

GAYLORD, Mich. – Oil and gas company officials continue cleaning up a crude oil and brine spill in the Pigeon River Country State Forest that turned out to be more than four times larger than initially estimated.

On Jan. 15, members of the state forest’s advisory committee received an update about ongoing cleanup work following an oil spill discovered last spring. A company official reported crews are working to finish removing liquids that leaked from a pipeline flowline into a wetland area last April in Cheboygan County’s Forest Township.