(AP) -- BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer says the company operating a pipeline that spilled oil into a southern Michigan river was slow in alerting federal authorities.

The Democratic congressman from Michigan briefed media Wednesday near the Kalamazoo River where crews worked to contain and clean up an estimated 877,000 gallons of oil that coated birds and fish as it poured into a creek and flowed into one of the state's major waterways.

Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge Inc. officials have said the spill was detected between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday. Schauer released a document saying the incident was not reported to the National Response Center until about 1:30 p.m.

A message seeking comment was left Wednesday morning with Enbridge, which had scheduled a 10:30 a.m. EDT news conference.

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