LANSING, Mich. — The state of Michigan will take over more than a dozen oil wells, including the one that leaked earlier this year in Ottawa County's Bend Park.
Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the takeover of 21 oil wells by the state. Nessel said Fisher McCall Oil and Gas also agreed to pay the state nearly $3 million as part of a settlement.
According to Nessel, most of the money will be used to plug the 21 non-producing wells in Ottawa and Ingham counties.
“We were really relieved. I think that was our endgame, was to get a permanent resolution on these oil wells in Ottawa County,” said Louis Hunt during a Zoom interview with FOX 17 on Thursday afternoon. “We definitely didn’t want to be in the same situation again.”
UPDATE: AG Nessel announces the state will take over 21 non-producing wells in Ottawa & Ingham counties & will plug them up.
— Lauren Edwards (@LaurenEdwardsTV) August 10, 2023
In April, there was oil spill in Georgetown Twp that covered parts of river & land at the Bend Area Open Space.
But now, it’s all green again. // @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/4BFOJXCaqd
Hunt is the director of Ottawa County's emergency management office. He was one of the many officials and first responders who were at the scene of the spill back in April when it was first spotted by kayakers. The slick polluted roughly 300 yards of shoreline.
"It largely impacted our natural resources and you know that's something in Ottawa County that I think we all collectively really take some pride in," Hunt said. "People were impacted in not being able to fish in that area for a little while. No contact with their bodies, that kind of thing."
While the area was being cleaned up, an investigation ensued.
Last year, Nessel sued the energy company for failing to properly plug and clean up the well sites.
In a statement, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phil Roos said, “Michigan’s natural resources belong to all of us, and those who profit from them have a legal obligation to ensure their activities leave no long-term hazards. In this case, those obligations were not fulfilled. This settlement sends a message that Michigan will aggressively pursue irresponsible parties when they fall short of their responsibility to protect Michiganders’ natural assets.”
According to the attorney general, 20 of the 21 wells are located in Ottawa County’s Georgetown and Tallmadge townships.
As part of the settlement, Fisher McCall Oil and Gas agreed to turn over its wells and permits to EGLE and be liable for the following:
• $2.1 million to plug the 21 wells
• $400,000 to remediate the wells and associated facilities
• $102,095 to reimburse EGLE for prior oil leak response costs
• $250,000 in civil fines to the state
• $51,627 in the form of forfeiture of a bond filed with EGLE
