(NEWSCHANNEL 3) - One year ago today most of West Michigan learned of the Enbridge oil spill that flowed into Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River.

Clean up crews are still working on several parts of the river on this one-year anniversary.

Tuesday, Michigan environmentalists used the symbolic date to question Enbridge's response to the spill and the actions of local congressmen on environmental issues.

Enbridge says it has removed 90 percent of the spilled oil over the past year.

Beth Wallace with the National Wildlife Federation says that is not good enough, not fast enough and the current methods of gathering submerged oil which lead to an oil sheen and blobs of oil on the river surface are doing more harm than good.

"With the mixing and resurfacing of the oil comes continued disruption and devastation," said Wallace.

She says almost 300 oil covered turtles have been captured and cleaned since the start of 2011.

Clean Water Action Michigan Director Cyndi Roper believes if Enbridge had been left to its own devices there would not be this large of an effort still.

“It is a devastating reminder that the EPA plays a critical role in protecting our air, land and water. That's why we're here today. To make sure everybody is connecting the dots. This clean would not be happening, would not be moving forward without the EPA," said Roper.

These environmentalists say they're very concerned about votes on the future of the EPA from Tim Walberg and Fred Upton, the two congressmen whose districts this spill happened in.

"It's outrageous that Reps. Walberg and Upton would vote for a bill that would clean water protections by limiting the duties of the U.S. EPA, especially with the effects of last year's oil spill right here in their home districts still being felt so acutely by the very people they represent in Congress," said Rita Chapman of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.

Enbridge has said the methods it is using to get oil to the surface now are the best, most effective options for cleaning the river bottom.