Michigan officials to coordinate oil spill exercise Thursday

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Monday that there will be a functional oil spill response exercise in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The exercise will include 300 participants from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the DEQ and local emergency management agencies. While it will not involve any actual oil or animals, it will simulate a marine light crude spill from Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. The organizations involved will deploy emergency personnel and equipment such as boats and booms.

Fulfilling the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program guidelines, the exercise will test emergency response efforts such as the equipment and procedures used and interagency cooperation.

Other organizations taking part in the exercise include the Michigan State Police, Mackinac County Sheriff, St. Ignace Police Department, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Chippewa County Emergency Management, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, and emergency management teams from Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties.