(CBS-DETROIT) – Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell has sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional administrator asking her to monitor the oil spill that occurred at the Northville Downs construction site last week.
According to a statement from the city, demolition at the site of the former race track caused the oil spill on Friday, and some of the spill entered a storm drain and entered the Rouge River.
Residents living near the site expressed concern about the spill and said they believed city officials should have acted more quickly after the spill.
Last week, the city said two threats will remain in place to address the spill and that a private contractor has been hired to conduct the cleanup and continue to contain the spill.
Now Dingell is asking for action from the EPA.
“On June 21, 2024, a demolition crew’s machinery punctured more than 12 55-gallon steel drums and a poly container of motor oil while demolishing a building at the Downs Development site in Northville,” Dingell wrote in her letter.
She confirmed that the contaminants had leaked into the Rouge River and said city and county officials responded quickly. Her letter also stated that the two threats contained the oil and that no oil has been found in the river since Friday, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
While containment appears to be going well, Dingell said it is essential to ensure the spill does not pose any risk to residents or the river.
“The city, county and I have had conversations with EGLE to ensure we are taking all necessary steps to protect residents,” Dingell said. “It is critical that the EPA is aware of this situation and monitors developments to ensure that this contamination does not pose risks to the public or our environment.”
