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Jackson company to pay $65K after Grand River oil spill

The Grand River in Lansing
user brianhef / flickr
The Grand River in Lansing

A Jackson company will pay about $65,000 in fines and cleanup costs following an oil spill in the Grand River last May.

It took two days for about 800 gallons of motor oil and hydraulic fluid to be cleaned from the river in Jackson. Industrial Steel Treating Co. was later determined to be responsible for the spill.

An investigation determined the spill was accidental. The Jackson Citizen Patriot reports the liquid leaked after workers improperly reassembled coolers outside of their building.

Although the city didn't penalize the company, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality imposed penalties. A department spokesman says Industrial Steel was required to pay a $5,000 fine and improve their procedures.

In addition to $60,000 in cleanup costs, the company said it would work to ensure a similar accident never happens again.