Attorney General Dana Nessel is charging Traverse City native, Donald Lewis Balcom for allegedly abandoning an industrial barge off the coast of Leelanau County.
According to Nessel's office, Balcom allegedly abandoned the vessel in Lake Michigan in 2020 which caused oil from the barge to be released into the lake.
After Balcom agreed to tow the barge, Nessel alleges he abandoned the vessel again in 2021 where it eventually sank to the bottom of the Great Lake close to the end of a residential dock.
In a statement, Nessel said she "will continue to make an effort to protect the Great Lakes."
“The Great Lakes are treasured natural resources that are central to our way of life in Michigan,” Nessel said in the statement. “They are not a dumping ground or a junkyard for abandoned vessels. I will always take action to protect the Great Lakes from the threat of pollution, and to preserve them for future generations.”
The environmental crime unit is charging Balcom with a felony for spilling hazardous substances along with misdemeanor charges ranging from trespassing, safety and permit violations.