As much as 6,200 litres of oil spilled into Lake Michigan: BP
by The Associated Press
Oil giant hiked estimate after initially announcing between 1,400 and 2,860 litres of crude oil released
WHITING, Ind.—Oil giant BP has raised its estimate of how much crude oil spilled into Lake Michigan during a malfunction at its northwestern Indiana refinery.
BP said a preliminary estimate shows between 15 and 39 barrels of oil have been recovered from the lake at its Whiting refinery.
That’s between 2,380 and 6,200 litres.
The new figure is up from BP’s initial estimate that nine to 18 barrels of oil entered the lake, or as much as 2,900 litres.
BP says its crews have recovered “the vast majority” of oil visible along the shoreline.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says its staffers, along with members of the U.S. Coast Guard, oversaw cleanup work at the spill site again March 27, but bad weather prevented them from deploying boats into the lake.
