The Athabasca pipeline, a major conduit out of the Oilsands has been shut down in northern Alberta as Enbridge begins to cleanup a spill of diluted bitumen. Far to the east, an earlier Enbridge pipeline rupture disgorged more than 800-thousand gallons of thick bitumen crude into a tributary of Michigan's Kalamazoo River. Only now, 2 years later will it be reopened for recreational use. As hearings into the Gateway Pipeline continue, we're asking about the lessons learned.

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Part Three of The Current

Kalamazoo Oil Spill - Resident of Ceresco, Michigan

It will be two years next month since a greasy slice of Canada oozed into a tributary of Michigan's Kalamazoo river. About 3.3 million litres of diluted bitumen spilled out of a ruptured Enbridge pipeline. It's been expensive and difficult to clean up, and some sediment remains. Nevertheless, tomorrow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce the river is open again for recreational use.

Some residents of Marshall, Michigan are relieved the smell's gone, but they're not too sure about tasting anything that comes out of the water. We heard from Rosalynd Jolly, and before her, Jessie Sheppard fishing with his nieces in the Kalamazoo River.

But for many residents of that area the last two years have been an ongoing nightmare. Deb Millar is a resident of Ceresco, Michigan and that's where we reached her this morning.

Kalamazoo Oil Spill - Aquatic Ecology Professor

Steven Hamilton knows exactly how arduous the cleanup has been. He is a professor of aquatic ecology at Michigan State University and one of the scientists charged by the EPA to manage the cleanup. He and his colleagues at the EPA have been studying the effects of bitumen on the local wildlife and ecology for the past two years. Steven Hamilton joined us from his home in Augusta, Michigan.

We contacted Enbridge to join us on the program, but haven't received a response.

Kalamazoo Oil Spill - President, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

This week, another Enbridge pipeline sprung a leak northeast of Edmonton. The company estimates about 230 cubic metres of heavy oil escaped a pumping station near Elk Point. The company says no waterway was affected and a cleanup is underway. This comes as clean up crews are still working on two other spills in Alberta.

This, as hearings continue into the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline -- which would also carry bitumen through some of Canada's most sensitive ecosystems and waterways.

Our next guest believes that Canada's oil and gas industry is more than prepared to deal with any spills that could occur. Brenda Kenny is the President of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association and she was in our Calgary studio.

This segment was produced by The Current's Lara O'Brien and Julia Pagel.

Last Word - Hosni Mubarak interview with Journalist Charlie Rose

Today, Egyptians are still absorbing the news that Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted during the Arab Spring after three decades of rule, is clinging to life after suffering a stroke. Reports that the former dictator is "clinically dead" come just weeks after he was sentenced to life for his role in the deaths of protesters. It's an end he clearly didn't imagine when speaking to journalist Charlie Rose mere months before his country rose up. We aired an excerpt of Hosni Mubarak in that interview, for today's Last Word.

Other segments from today's show:

• Memories of Hosni Mubarak
• Google Transparency Report