issues. Diving into Enbridge’s history with Michigan and the Midwest region, Michigan’s major oil spill in the Kalamazoo river back in 2010 was by no other by Enbridge. The pipeline leaked out over 1,000,000 gallons of tar sands crude oil, which by the way is one of the hardest types of oil to clean up because it sinks to the bottom of the water and we can’t really see it. That is the largest oil spill in United States history and it’s not even by an American company. The spill damaged 35 miles of the river, took around 5 years to maximize the cleaning and damaged over 3,000 animals and their habitat. The most recent oil spill took place less than 7 months ago, in Wisconsin, west of Milwaukee. On November 11th, 2024, around 70,000 gallons of oil spilled in Jefferson County. This time it was the biggest spill in Wisconsin history, unfortunately, the oil spill did eventually reach groundwaters, around 4.2 gallons of oil. Also the oil spill is still near other wetlands and waterways which we do not know if there was an impact because the oil spill was so recent. What makes this situation odd is that 3 days after the spill, Wisconsin approved the first permits to have Line 5 rerouted around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation. Finally to Line 5 problems, the major one being that the pipeline is over around 70 years old, being very old and it was originally built to last 50 years. Also, throughout Line 5’s operation, the pipeline has leaked at least 33 times in its lifetime. Just to mention all steel or metal erodes over time, meaning the longer we go with operating this long, we put the Great Lakes at risk everyday. If the old line has a spill in the Straits of Mackinac, would enter into Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, which would impact our drinking water, animal habitats in the ocean and on the shores, take years to clean up and will also cause economic issues. Now to the illegal issues, the agreements on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa land expired in June 2013, meaning Line 5 has been operating illegally on Native American lands for 12 years. In 2020, Michigan’s Governor revoked the 1953 agreement for Line 5 to continue operations, operations were supposed to stop in May of 2021, yet again Enbridge continues operations
illegally. Ongoing current environmental problems with the new line 5 proposition, the construction of upgrading this line will release about 20,000 gallons of fluid for drilling operations and drawdown groundwater. This is going to have long-term effects on wetland loss due to ground disturbance and is estimated to lose 4.17 acres of wetlands. North of the construction site is estimated to lose 1.53 acres of wetlands. Wetlands are important to Michigan because wetlands are nature’s natural water filters, help with flood control, and play a key role in nutrient recycling In the Great Lakes Construction of the tunnel can disturb lake beds and fish spawning points. Also consider how drilling fluid can affect the quality of the water. Many fish and species will die because they won’t be able to adapt to 20,000 gallons of drilling fluids, Also the quality of the water can be affected due to the new addition of fluid. Now, this operation won’t be simple and quiet, this operation will be loud and complex driving fish out of that area for an indefinite period. Another long-term effect that will be important is vegetation, vegetation will have to be removed but will eventually be planted back to the extent that it can be. With all that being said, It is not a safe option to keep Enbridge’s Line 5 operating because of Enbridge’s history of oil spills and legal issues. The environmental risks are too heavy for the line to even continue since it is 22 years past its supposed lifespan and anytime now the pipe can burst or leak and it would behorrible.
The potential impacts of building a tunnel around Line 5 across the Straits, as well as potential impacts of project are to land use and recreation, aesthetics, water resources, biological resources, cultural resources, geology, soils, transportation and navigation, air quality, noise and vibration, socioeconomics, reliability and safety. In addition, the cultural impacts to historic properties are threatened as well.
The proposed Line 5 Tunnel Project would impinge upon or abrogate treaty rights. The Final EIS MUST comply with all applicable legal and policy requirements, including its federal trust responsibility to Tribal Nations, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act.
The public comments include concerns about pipeline safety and spills, public health and safety and greenhouse gas emissions. Enbridge has a long history of accidents, spills, and inadequate cleanup. Degradation of their systems has gone unreported. Enbridge is responsible for the two largest inland oil spills in U.S. history, and has a long record of negligence, regulatory violations, and cover ups.
With over 95% of the Line 5 coming from and returning to Canada, it makes no reasonable sense for Michigan to build a tunnel for Canadian oil. Enbridge experts testified and independent experts agree that Line 5 can be shut down without spiking energy prices. Even the USACE determined that the proposed Project could significantly affect the quality of the human environment. DO NOT ISSUE A PERMIT TO ENBRIDGE’S PROPOSED LINE 5 TUNNEL PROJECT
As a Michigan citizen, the onus will be on the state to take responsibility for the cleanup and in perpetuity maintain and monitor the line. This is an expense not needed by the citizens, especially as this administration in Washington is cutting resources to cope with a spill that would have international consequences. As a lakefront property owner on Georgian Bay, a family property that has been in the family for nearly 100 years, I could further be impact by drifting pollutants from any Michigan spill.
The lakes have enough of a challenge handling current human pollution, we need not add to the mix such potential for a horrendous disaster. Line #5, as well as other Embridge lines, have failed. Line #5 has spilled over 1 million gallons (that we know of) already through the years. As we learn to use other energy better, let’s not make the mistake of stepping backwards in our evolution to further fossil fuels dependence and the disaster we create with such a project, as one day it will fail…
I think that the line in entirety should be replaced, considering the age and the number of other leaks in other parts of Michigan.
Ideally oil pipelines should be looking at sunsetting dates, and pipeline companies consider other energy models.
I’ve learned the main reason for the pipeline is to supply crude oil and natural gas to Canada, by way of a short cut through our straits of Mackinaw (Great Lakes), Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. There are other safe ways to move that dirty oil to Canada using Trucks or they could build their own pipeline. The pipeline does not benefit Michigan enough to allow this massive environmentally dangerous project to run through our lakes or our land. There is not enough benefit for our state or country to justify building this tunnel. Enbridge is not reliable and could never pay for the recovery of our land and water to justify this project if it fails. Enbridge has proven over and over that they are not a responsible and have had too many failures on their record to ever take on such a project across our straits. Enbridge is not to be trusted. https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/enbridge_safety_record#:~:text=Publicrecordsgobackonly,oilleakingfromtheirpipeline. https://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/pipeline_spill_danger “Oil and gas pipeline spills are not unusual, accounting for hundreds of explosions, fires, seeps, and spills in the United States every
year.”
The current pipeline # 5 is old and should be shut down immediately, even if a tunnel is built. Line 5 is a disaster waiting to happen and we may never recover our precious Great Lakes resources if this happens. If Canada wants this oil and gas then they need to figure out a way to move it in their country to where it needs to go. The end does not justify the means. The minimal rise in cost for the limited Michigan users of the oil and gas does not come close to the cost of this project if and when it fails.
Finally, our future is not compatible with fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are limited and renewable sustainable energy is not. The expense of this tunnel could be put to better use for something that will create jobs and protect our environment and our future. The Army Corp of Engineers Must stop this project.
