ST. IGNACE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – It’s been exactly 812 days since Enbridge Energy LP submitted their application to relocate the Line 5 pipeline to a tunnel that is below the Straits of Mackinac.
For more than two years, documents have been submitted, public comment has been collected and a host of organizations have intervened in the case including labor unions, Tribal nations, trade associations representing the propane industry, environmental groups, the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority, Attorney General Dana Nessel, MPSC staff and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
MORE NEWS: Middle East Expert: Americans ‘Lulled’ Into False Sense of Security on Terrorism
On Thursday, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) announced that they have ordered a reopening of that application because they find the record “deficient on critical matters of engineering and safety.” They are asking for additional evidence to complete their analysis. They want more testimony, exhibits, documents and other
evidence for the record.
Although the MPSC is voicing concern about the safety of the relocated pipeline, the Bay Mills Indian Community, who has intervened in the process, wants the whole thing shut down. They say that the tunnel poses a threat to their food and water supply, treaty rights, economic livelihood and medicinal plant species as well as accelerating climate
change.
Bay Mills Indian Community President Whitney Gravelle says, “We must stop the tunnel project and shut down Line 5.”
The Line 5 pipelines currently span 645 miles, including a four-and-a-half-mile segment of dual pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac, and deliver light crude oil and natural gas liquids (including propane) for the residents of Michigan in order to heat their homes.
Enbridge consistently cites safety as a main concern and their website says, “Safety is not just a core value of Enbridge – it’s the foundation of everything we do. Proactively advancing the safety of communities, and protecting the environment, will always be our top priority.”
In response to the new request for more information by the MPSC, Enbridge released the following statement, “Enbridge will continue to work with the Michigan Public Service Commission to address any remaining questions that Commissioners may have regarding the relocation of the Line 5 pipelines across the Straits of Mackinac into the
Great Lakes Tunnel. We believe that extensive information documenting the engineering and safety of the Great Lakes Tunnel is already included in the MPSC record and led to the MPSC professional staff recommended approval of our application based on the thorough record that has been developed to date.”
MORE NEWS: ‘Very Strange’ UM Lab Case Ends With Guilty Plea and Immediate Deportation
Enbridge remains committed to the MPSC process so that the Great Lakes Tunnel is built and says “It will make a safe pipeline safer, assure long term energy security and reliability, and support Michigan jobs and the economy.”
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce has also commented on this new development. Jim Holcomb, president & CEO of the Michigan Chamber said, “The current challenges facing our state, country and globe – surging energy demand, historic inflation, supply chain disruptions – make it clearer than ever that we need Line 5 and the Great Lakes Tunnel for our energy, economic and environmental security. We fully agree that it’s essential all information is transparent and available, though do believe an extensive record of clear documentation denoting sound science exists. It’s time to move forward as quickly as possible to ensure our energy future, position us for economic prosperity and provide the best protection of our Great Lakes.”
