LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – If you’ve been keeping score at home, the proposed Line 5 tunnel has spent nearly as much time in courtrooms and government offices as it has on engineering drawings. Now the public gets another chance to add its voice to the seemingly endless process.
Enbridge’s Line 5 project centers on relocating the section of its aging oil and natural gas liquids pipeline that crosses the Straits of Mackinac into a new underground tunnel bored through bedrock beneath the lakebed. Supporters say the tunnel would significantly reduce the risk of a spill into the Great Lakes while allowing the pipeline to continue supplying crude oil, natural gas liquids and propane to Michigan, neighboring states and Canada. Opponents argue the project poses environmental risks and have challenged the project, making the proposed tunnel the focus of years of legal and regulatory battles.
Public comment period nears deadline.
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One of those regulatory steps is now open for public input. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is accepting comments through June 30 on the proposed reissuance of Enbridge’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
The wastewater permit was originally issued in 2021 but expired while the Line 5 tunnel project remained tied up in litigation and other regulatory reviews before construction could begin. If reissued, the permit would authorize the discharge of treated wastewater associated with construction and operation of the proposed tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
Lawmaker encourages public input.
State Rep. Ken Borton (R-Gaylord) released the following statement regarding the ongoing permitting process for the proposed Line 5 tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac: “Line 5 continues to play an important role in delivering affordable and dependable energy to communities across Michigan. As the permitting process moves forward, it is important that residents, workers, local businesses, and families who rely on this energy infrastructure have their voices heard. Public input helps ensure that decision-makers consider the needs of the people and communities most affected by these decisions.”
Another permit, another round.
The permit is just one piece of a very large project that has become tangled in multiple lawsuits, regulatory reviews and political battles. Opponents continue challenging various state and federal approvals, while supporters argue replacing the aging lakebed pipeline with a tunnel would improve safety and protect the Great Lakes.
EGLE will accept comments online through June 30 at this link. The agency also held a virtual public meeting and hearing on June 18 to collect testimony from supporters and opponents. The event drew participation from more than 200 residents.
Whether you believe the tunnel is long overdue or think it should never be built, now is the time to make your case.
