Posted Draft EIS Comments

I’d like the army corps to reject a rushed approval of the Line 5 tunnel project because of the following:
The Line 5 tunnel project has not undergone a comprehensive risk assessment, which is crucial for a project that poses risks to the Great Lakes, our climate, and our future.
Many tunnel experts who have reviewed Enbridge’s plans share concerns for the logistics of placing a tunnel under the lakebed, considering it to be complicated, dangerous, and technically challenging. Experts also share concerns for the workers who are subjected to the dangerous pipeline construction and operations.
The supposed “energy emergency” used to justify fast-tracking this project is false and politically motivated, and should not override public safety and environmental protections.
An oil spill in the Great Lakes would be catastrophic for drinking water, wildlife, and Michigan’s economy. More than 1.3 million jobs, equating to $82 billion in wages, are directly tied to the Great Lakes.
Approving this tunnel locks us into decades of fossil fuel dependency, exacerbating the climate and public health crises; it must be thoroughly assessed for its greenhouse gas emissions and health impacts before proceeding.
Tribal nations and Indigenous communities have not been meaningfully consulted. Their rights, treaties, and voices must be honored

Please make a detailed review of the proposed Line 5 Tunnel under the Straits of Mackinaw. A break would be catastophic for our Great Lakes and the world’s largest supply of fresh water. Thank you for taking the time to protect our Great Lakes.

Prior to retirement as an env. scientist I worked several emergency responses as both EPA and Michigan oversite contractor including the Enbridge Line 6B oil pipeline spill and remediation. It is my view that the continued use of oil pipelines (and tar sand oil in particular) is un-needed due to oil over supply and declining demand. In addition, any pipeline under the Mackinaw straights whether via untried tunnel (engineering nightmare) invites unmitigated environmental catastrophes in the future. This project is unwise, unnecessary, and only furthers the excuse to continued fossil fuel use where alternative energy sources are going to be the future. The Line 5 tunnel project should be cancelled with no option for renewal.

Please do not approve enbridge line 5 tunnel. The fossil energy from Canada is not needed. The environment risks have not been fully vetted. Patience thru the review process is fully warranted.

DO NOT IGNORE THE DANGER ENBRIDGE IS CAUSING for all people around the Great Lakes. This threat is enormous and can never be reversed. Enbridge has a terrible record that is well known in Michigan because of their handling of the Kalamazoo leak and massive damage. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE and lives and potential are not safe in Enbridge hands.

Pause all approvals until a full environmental review is completed—including assessments of climate impacts, Indigenous rights, and public health.

Enbridge has proven itself to be a poor corporate actor and notoriously untrustworthy. Line 5 is unnecessary (a less risky route could be chosen) and benefits Michigan (which would be placed at greatest risk) little, if at all.

I strongly oppose continued operation of Line 5 under any circumstances. However, to consider issuing any permits, a thorough environmental risk assessment must be performed.

In 1954 somehow it was decided that an oil pipeline under the Straits was a good idea. Enbridge, famous for their Kalamazoo oil spill, is running an extensive campaign of deceit in order to tell their side of the picture. They cleverly craft their campaign to tell people that this is the type of energy that Michiganders need to run their factories, cars and homes, yet they fail to mention that the pipeline essentially starts in Canada and ends in Canada, with little benefit to Michiganders.
The present pipeline has had faulty supports for many years now. An anchor from a ship famously struck the pipeline a few years ago. Yet to be addressed is the increase in underwater currents in the Straits due to global warming or the added lateral stress to the pipeline from the accumulated zebra musk population that has increased the effective diameter of the pipeline. Enbridge brags that they want to protect the environment, yet a pipeline rupture in the winter would be impossible to mitigate due to the ice in the straits. If the pipeline should rupture the recently-anointed number one tourist destination in the USA (Mackinac Island) would be devastated.
They say that we rent the land from future generations. Let’s keep that in mind.

From my point of view, Line 5 was a huge mistake to start with. Embridge has proven to be very untrustworthy, and for the tiny amount of its products that we use in MI, the costs of a major spill far outweigh the benefits. And speaking of spills, is there a plan in place in case of a catastrophic failure? Who pays for the cleanup and loss of wildlife? How about damages to resorts and marinas? Loss of income from tourists? Way too much to lose compared to small benefits!
Let them build a line through Canada to move Canadian oil for Canadian use.

The Great Lakes provide drinking water for millions of people. Plus, the Great Lakes provide an economy and livelihoods for millions. An oil leak from Line 5 would destroy fishing, pollute our drinking water, and kill wildlife in and around the Great Lakes. STOP Line 5.