Crews work to clean up wetland after oil spill

Crews are working to clean up a wetland after an oil spill in Manistee County.

According to the Department of Environmental Quality, the pipeline that broke near 8 Mile is owned by Merit Energy.

A senior geologist with the DEQ said Merit discovered the oil spill on December 27th and reported it to them right away.

We're told the utility cord goes right underneath a wetland, so the fluid bubbled up to the snow and ice.

Crews have been working to restore the wetland since January 8th.

The DEQ said drinking water and wells are not affected.

They said they will be monitoring water quality once digging is complete.