Enbridge has always been an organization that has been proud of our success, our reputation, and our strong and positive relationships with our many stakeholders.

But on Monday, July 26, 2010, an estimated 19,000-barrel leak was discovered on our 6B pipeline in the area of Marshall, Michigan. That leak was among the most serious incidents in our long history. And its impact on the people and the environment in Marshall, Battle Creek and other communities in Michigan was profound.

The news, the images, the opinions and the facts about the spill were painful for everyone at Enbridge, as they represented a significant failure for us as a company.

Enbridge employees were saddened and upset by the leak and the impact it had on the communities, wildlife and environment in Michigan. They were also disappointed by the effect the spill had on our company’s strong reputation.

However, the same qualities that have sustained Enbridge’s success for 60 years are the ones that guide us now as we continue to work to contain the spill, clean up the mess and rebuild the trust that we lost.

“For Enbridge, no spill is acceptable,” said Patrick D. Daniel, Enbridge President and CEO. “We understand that we must hold ourselves to the highest standards of openness and care in all communities where we operate because we have been serving North America’s energy needs for 60 years, and we intend to be a good neighbor for decades to come.”

The world is watching Enbridge now as we rise to this challenge. While, with the help of hundreds of individuals and many organizations, we have made tremendous progress in our efforts to fully clean up the spill, we still have a big job ahead of us.

While the tasks ahead are complex and many, our values are strong and we are up to the challenge.

We made a simple commitment on July 26, and that commitment stands: We will clean up the spill and make the community whole again.