MichiganRadio

Government officials investigate whether undertrained, undocumented immigrants were used in oil spill cleanup ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

Government officials are investigating allegations that a company may have employed under-trained, undocumented immigrants to clean-up an oil spill along the Kalamazoo River.

About 17 hundred workers have been collecting oil spilled into the river after the late July pipeline break. But one of the companies sub-contracted to do the clean-up work, Hallmark Industrial, allegedly brought in undocumented immigrants to do the work. That company's contract was terminated Monday.

Doug Kalinowski is the director of the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration. His office has launched an investigation into whether Hallmark properly trained its workers.

"We could wrap up an inspection in a couple days...or it could take a week," says Kalinowski.

Kalinowski says Hallmark could be fined 70 thousand dollars for each violation.

Meanwhile, one Michigan congressman is calling on federal agencies to investigate whether illegal immigrants were hired to do the Kalamazoo River clean-up.

An Enbridge Energy spokeswoman says this is an issue for its contractors, insisting the oil spill cleanup is unaffected. © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio