Man bound over for trial after allegedly sinking barge illegally in Lake Michigan twice

(WWJ) - A man, who prosecutor's say illegally sunk a barge in Lake Michigan, has been bound over to face trial.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said 88-year-old Donald Lewis Balcom, from Traverse City, has been bound over to face trial on seven charges related to the sinking of an industrial barge Balcom owned.

The charges were announced in June, following years of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy trying to work with Balcom to deal with the sunken barge. It has allegedly contaminated the Grand Traverse Bay, which is on the northeastern coast of Lake Michigan, officials said.

It is alleged that Balcom, owner of Balcom Marine Contractors, illegally sunk the barge for the first time in 2020 on Lake Michigan bottomlands near Greilickville. The barge released oil into Lake Michigan after being partially submerged, authorities said.

EGLE and the U.S. Coast Guard ordered Balcom to move the barge in May of 2021. It was towed to Grand Traverse Bay, where it was sunk illegally for a second time, officials said.

The barge was sunk close to shore in Lake Michigan. Officials say it was approximately 20 feet from the end of a residential dock.

Balcom arranged for the barge to be brought ashore after two years, following criminal charges being filed by the Attorney General.

The barge is still in the same location, which is a violation of state law, officials said.

Balcom has been charged by the environmental crimes unit of the Attorney General's office. He faces a felony for releasing hazardous substances, in this case oil, into state waters. He faces misdemeanor charges for trespassing, placement of fill material, in this case the barge, on Great Lakes submerged lands without a permit and marine safety violations.

Balcom has a pretrial conference in Leelanau County Circuit Court on Dec. 27.