Enbridge Releases Line 5 Alternative Plan

Enbridge says a secure underground corridor beneath the Straits of Mackinac is a feasible replacement alternative to the existing Line 5 crossing.

That comes from a report to the State of Michigan as mandated in an agreement driven by Governor Rick Snyder last November.

The report is the first of four due to the state this month.

The plan was quickly criticized by environmental groups saying a tunnel will not protect public health and safety.

Here is the full press release from the Governor’s office, followed by the response from Food & Water Watch:

Enbridge delivers pipeline alternatives analysis to State of Michigan

Report was mandated under terms of Nov. 2017 agreement, is one of four due to the state this month

A report given today to the State of Michigan from Enbridge concludes that a secure underground corridor for Line 5 beneath the Straits of Mackinac is a feasible replacement alternative to the existing Line 5 crossing. Mandated in a November 2017 agreement driven by Gov. Rick Snyder, the report is the first of four due to the state this month.

“Line 5 cannot remain in the Straits indefinitely. We need a concrete strategy and timeline to expedite its replacement,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. “This report will help us define a comprehensive solution for all utility crossings.”

The state asked Enbridge to examine three alternatives – a tunnel beneath the Straits, an open cut pipe-in-pipe system, and horizontal directional drilling. A tunnel would separate Line 5 from the waters of the Great Lakes without disturbing the bottomlands of the Straits, while also providing opportunity for other utilities to be included in the underground corridor.

The report is available online at the Michigan Petroleum Pipelines website. It is one of four that are part of an ongoing analysis of Line 5 by the Michigan Agency for Energy and the Michigan departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources. By June 30, Enbridge, which owns and operates Line 5, also will provide:

• An assessment of technologies that would provide additional benefits over and above technologies in place at the Line 5 Straits crossing.

• A report on options to mitigate the risk of a vessel anchor damaging Line 5 in the Straits.

• A list of priority waters crossed by Line 5 – jointly identified by the state and Enbridge – and assessments of measures at each crossing to minimize the likelihood and consequences of a spill.

Each Enbridge report is being independently reviewed by contractors hired by the state to ensure the accuracy of the company’s information. The reports will supplement independent analyses commissioned by the state to inform a decision on the final disposition of Line 5. That decision is anticipated this fall.

A recent incident in the Straits that damaged utility lines owned by American Transmission Co. — in addition to damaging Line 5 – highlighted safety concerns around all utility lines in the Straits. The state is seeking short-term and long-term measures that will allow for continued connection of Michigan’s peninsulas while reducing to the greatest extent possible the potential for an oil release in the Great Lakes.

In May, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, with Gov. Snyder’s approval, issued an emergency rule creating a no-anchor zone in the Straits. The emergency rule formalized a previously informal anchor restriction in the Straits of Mackinac by prohibiting anchoring under Michigan state law. Productive discussions are underway with the U.S. Coast Guard on permanent measures that would complement the state’s temporary emergency rule.

The state also is awaiting an independent risk analysis from a team of researchers led by Dr. Guy Meadows of Michigan Technological University.

Enbridge Plan To Replace Line 5 With Tunnel Will Not Protect Public Health and Safety

Enbridge today released its proposal to replace the aging Line 5 pipeline with a tunnel, allowing the company to continue shipping oil through the Great Lakes. This tunnel, just like the Line 5 pipeline, would carry significant environmental and economic risks, making it the wrong choice for Michigan.

Any spill from the tunnel would spread swiftly from the Straits of Mackinac through Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This would have devastating implications for Michigan’s drinking water and economy. A recent study conservatively estimated that an oil spill on the Straits of Mackinac would cost Michigan over $6 billion though impacts on tourism, commercial fishing, and property values.

Statement by Jenya Polozova, Midwest Organizer, Food & Water Watch

“Enbridge has proven repeatedly that it is not a trustworthy partner. This negligent company was responsible for the greatest inland oil spill in U.S. history eight years ago. Just last month, it was fined for not properly inspecting its pipelines to prevent another spill.

The only way to prevent unnecessary risks to Michigan’s environment and economy is for Governor Snyder and Attorney General Schuette to shut down Line 5 entirely. We should focus on a just transition to renewable energy rather than building infrastructure which keeps us dependent on dirty, outdated fossil fuels.”