MACKINAW CITY, MI-- The Coast Guard says a leak of mineral oil from utility cables in the Straits of Mackinac may have been caused by vessel activity.
It’s working with the Department of Environmental Quality, a representative of several Michigan tribes, cable owner American Transmission Company, and other agencies to determine exactly what caused the damage. All entities that have active utility lines in the Straits have been told to assess their infrastructure and take any necessary steps to protect it.
ATC has extracted about 50 percent of the mineral oil from one of its two cables.
Officials say there’s still no evidence of an ongoing release.