MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Twice a year Wolverine Pipe Line Company conducts a proactive training as part of their emergency response plan. Every year the locations are different, as the Company has many bodies of water to protect. The training is to prevent a spill of any refined product, such as gasoline or diesel from spreading, in the event a release were to happen.

Through the Wolverine Pipe Line Company's emergency response plan, the Red Cedar River was identified as a high consequence area if a release happens. A training session was conducted at Ferguson Park this year as a precaution. The Wolverine Pine Line Company had the response team use what they call a "boom" to practice containing a release.

"What that does is that any product that could be released or potential release into a water stream would uh float on top of the water and the boom would act as a safe guard to prevent it from going any father than it needs to go," said Brian Wilson an Area Supervisor for Wolverine Pipeline.

A tactical response team as well as outside contractors help Wolverine Pipe Line Company come up with locations that would be most beneficial in case of an emergency like this. Locations need to have an easy way in and out, and no unforeseen obstacles.

The largest threat to pipelines are digging projects that have not be authorized by a pipeline company. Wilson explained dialing 811 before you dig could be the difference in preventing a refined product release and protecting the environment.