Supplemental Draft EIS Comments

DONT DO THIS - WHY ARE WE EVEN CONSIDERING ANYTHING NEAR THE GREAT LAKES REGION - DO YOU NOT HAVE GRANDCHILDREN?

I don't want to see the Great Lakes go the way of the Gulf of Mexico. They hold the largest Fresh Water supply in America...and with all the new data centers being built, every drop is more precious than gold or any Enbridge profits. END THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL, FOR GOOD SENSE AND OUR FRESH WATER SUPPLY. No expansion of any fossil fuel projects in, over, or under our Great Lakes.

I am submitting this comment in response to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Line 5 Tunnel Project.

Professional background: I am a professional archaeologist and university faculty member with expertise in cultural resource management, archaeological site protection, and compliance with federal preservation laws.

Fundamental opposition: I oppose the Line 5 Tunnel Project in all forms — including the proposed horizontal directional drilling (HDD) alternative — because it perpetuates dependence on fossil fuel infrastructure at a time when national policy and scientific consensus call for rapid transition to renewable energy sources.

Archaeological and cultural resource concerns: The Straits of Mackinac region is one of the most archaeologically and culturally significant areas in the Great Lakes, with thousands of years of Indigenous occupation and use.

Tunnel construction, HDD operations, and associated staging areas pose serious risks to archaeological sites, submerged cultural deposits, and Traditional Cultural Landscapes (TCLs) that may not yet be identified or adequately documented.

The Draft EIS does not provide sufficient detail on how site identification, avoidance, and mitigation would be conducted—particularly for submerged resources and for areas of cultural or spiritual importance to Tribal Nations. Consultation with Tribes must go beyond procedural requirements to ensure meaningful participation, data sovereignty, and respect for traditional knowledge.

Environmental and public interest concerns: Continuing Line 5 operations under any configuration prolongs the risk of oil spills in the Great Lakes and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions inconsistent with U.S. climate goals.

The “No Action” alternative must be fully evaluated, including decommissioning the existing pipeline and redirecting investment toward clean energy infrastructure.

Request: Reject the proposed tunnel and HDD alternatives.

Strengthen and expand the cultural resource analysis in the Final EIS to include comprehensive archaeological survey (terrestrial and underwater) and detailed evaluation of TCLs in partnership with affected Tribes.

In conclusion, while I appreciate the USACE’s work on the Draft EIS, I believe that permitting continued fossil-fuel transport in this sensitive Great Lakes region would be a step backward for environmental protection and climate policy. For the protection of the Straits of Mackinac, the Great Lakes, tribal treaty rights, and the future sustainable energy transition, I ask that you deny the permit and direct efforts toward renewable energy investments instead.

Select the No Action Alternative to protect the Great Lakes, uphold federal preservation mandates, and honor Tribal treaty and cultural rights.

Thank you for your consideration of these comments.