MARSHALL (WTVB) - EPA and Enbridge officials say they expect to meet an end of the month deadline for removing the bulk of the crude oil the Kalamazoo River and its banks but it may be next year before the river or Morrow Lake will be reopened to recreational use. The DNRE’s Mary Dettloff says it’s not so much for the welfare of the sportsmen, but for the safety of the work crews. Goose hunters have already been banned from the zone for that reason. She says it will be lifted when the clean-up activities have largely ended.

Meanwhile, Enbridge CEO Pat Daniel announced Wednesday that they have hired one of Michigan’s most respected citizens to take a look at their claims process. Former Detroit mayor and State Supreme Court Justice Dennis Archer, a lawyer by profession, has agreed to be a special council to make sure that its claims process is fair. It follows the filing of several lawsuits and accusations made by Cong. Mark Schauer that some homeowners may have been duped into waiving their liability by filling out forms supplied by the Pipeline firm.

Daniel says they have paid off on about 500 claims, have purchased 4 homes, are in the process of purchasing a dozen more and assessing 50 others. He says they have about 500 additional claims under review. Dennis Archer is a Cass County native, a WMU Grad and Current Trustee, and is no stranger to the area.