SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Coast Guard is continuing cleanup efforts in Duncan Bay, Mich., today, three days after officials were notified of a heavily oiled beach in Cheboygan State Park.
Three large ground water monitoring wells were dug this morning in the area where the oil originally impacted the beach. The wells were placed on the beach to ensure the beach area is clean. The water will be tested throughout the week to ensure the health of the public is protected.
The cause of the spill is still under investigation.
The Coast Guard is carefully monitoring the Duncan Bay area with shoreline assessment teams to ensure the area is safe and there is no additional oil that warrants cleanup.
The cleanup effort is 90% complete, and the Coast Guard is working to ensure Cheboygan State Park is made available to beach goers, fishermen and duck hunters once again. The beach is used frequently in the spring, summer and fall months for outdoor recreational activities.
A safety zone, which was put in place Thursday to protect the public from the spill, was lifted as the cleanup effort has been successful and moved quickly.
The cleanup effort has been successful due to the multi-agency cooperation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Cheboygan State Park Officials. Each agency has played a key role in the fast response.
