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The Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, recently held an online discussion, regarding Canadian Oil Company Enbridge’s pending application to the Michigan Public Service Commission, to allow them to begin construction on a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, to replace the Line 5 oil pipeline.
The discussion raised more questions than it answered.
Originally built in 1953, Line 5 starts in Superior, Wisconsin, travels across the UP, goes through the Straits of Mackinac, and ends up in Sarnia, Ontario.
The pipeline carries 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas daily.
Numerous organizations and individuals fear a leak or rupture, due to Line 5’s age, would spell disaster for the environment and surrounding areas.
Retired wildlife biologist Jeff Towner, suggested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers require a permit and environmental impact statement, and comments from the public.
Mike Ripley, environmental coordinator with the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, spoke of shutting the project and pipeline down completely, as tribes in the area depend heavily on fishing in the region, and should an incident happen, a large area would be adversely affected.
A link to the discussion is here.
. UPEC plans on holding additional meetings in the future.
