MI Senators Push Oil Spill Measure

Michigan’s US Senators have introduced legislation requiring a review of hazardous materials pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac region, in an effort to ensure against spills and be able to react quickly when a spill occurs.

The introduction by Senate Democrats Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow comes the same week a safety drill is scheduled in the area.

The region includes the aging Line 5 pipeline underneath the Straits of Mackinac.

The legislation also bans shipments of crude oil by vessels in the Great Lakes.

So far no such shipping has taken place, but federal law also doesn’t ban it.

Further, the measure requires assessment of the current status of oil spill response.

As for the pipeline, John Griffin of the American Petroleum Institute says it’s a safe pipeline that was designed for that environment.