Posted Draft EIS Comments

As a PhD cell biologist and as a Michigan citizen, I am 100% against Enbridge Line5.
Enbridge Line 5 poses several potential risks to the Great Lakes, particularly due to its age, location, and history of spills. Several of my primary concerns on negative impacts are listed below.

1. Risk of Oil Spills in the Straits of Mackinac
Location vulnerability: Line 5 crosses the Straits of Mackinac, a critical juncture between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. This area is known for strong, shifting currents, which would rapidly spread oil in the event of a leak.
Worst-case scenario modeling: Studies (e.g., by the University of Michigan) show that a spill in this location could impact over 700 miles of shoreline and contaminate critical fish and wildlife habitats, drinking water sources, and coastal communities.
Limited response time: Fast-moving currents would give responders little time to contain a spill, increasing the risk of widespread contamination.

2. Aging Infrastructure
Line 5 was built in 1953 and has exceeded its original 50-year design life.
Corrosion and structural damage: The dual pipelines under the Straits have experienced protective coating loss, unsupported spans, and physical damage from anchor strikes.
Previous incidents: Enbridge has a track record of pipeline failures, including the 2010 Kalamazoo River spill (over 1 million gallons of oil), raising concerns about its safety assurances.

3. Ecological and Biological Impact
Aquatic ecosystems: A spill could devastate native fish populations (e.g., lake whitefish), disrupt spawning grounds, and damage wetlands.
Bird and wildlife deaths: Oil contamination of water and shorelines harms birds and mammals through ingestion, hypothermia, and poisoning.
Long-term recovery: Oil residues can persist in aquatic sediments and food chains for decades.

4. Drinking Water Threats
The Great Lakes provide drinking water to over 40 million people.
A spill in Line 5 could contaminate water intakes, especially those serving communities near the Straits.

All approvals must be delayed until a full environmental review is completed—including assessments of climate impacts, Indigenous rights, and public health. As a Michigan resident that regularly uses the water and land resources which could be negatively impacted, it is imperative that ALL assessments/studies are allowed to be completed, and meet the approval of Michigan residents.

Line 5 is NOT necessary for Michigan residents and a tunnel is not going to help we taxpayers either. Solar, wind and nuclear, along with natural gas already available (without risk to the Great Lakes) are the future. Enbridge cannot be trusted and neither can our “legislators “ who support Enbridge.

No paycheck is worth poisoning the Great Lakes. Line 5 is a ticking time bomb beneath 20% of the world’s freshwater. One spill could destroy drinking water, local jobs, and entire ecosystems. If you had the chance to stop a disaster that could harm your own child, your parent, someone you love—wouldn’t you do it? You can stop it. Reject Line 5. Because once the water is gone, no amount of money will bring it back.

The USACE must hear from thousands of advocates across the state demanding that they pause all approvals until a full environmental review is completed—including assessments of climate impacts, Indigenous rights, and public health. People are tired of government only representing billionaires and corporations.

Please conduct a full, comprehensive assess before approval is given to the Line 5 project in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. We do not need more fossil fuel projects at a time we must consider environmental protection and preservation.

no line 5! it’s too dangerous!

If petroleum products have to flow under the Great Lakes, then I want pipelines enclosed in a tunnel. We must protect our waters and the life that it contains. I thank everyone for the thought and hard work that has been put into planning this project.

I would be in favor of the Engineered Gravel/Rock Protective Cover Alternative,
IF as part of that project the current Line 5 were replaced by a new one and then covered. Line 5 is over 70 years old and needs to be replaced. Our Straits, Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron are too valuable to be risked.

Remember the Big Dig? What happened and continues to this day. Pipes on land is bad enough to maintain never mind underwater and Enbridge has always been trouble – leeks, spills burst pipes, fines you name it. Build it and someone will pay at some point and with Enbridge it will probably be soon.

Darrell Cass