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Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) released the following statement on a study released today by the Water Center at the University of Michigan documenting the potential impacts of an oil spill in Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.

“Today the University of Michigan released a study that demonstrates that all of us in Michigan need to be concerned about Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac. If there was a leak or spill from this pipeline, it would impact the entire state of Michigan. With more than 700 miles of shoreline vulnerable to a leak, a potential spill would destroy the Great Lakes ecosystem and jeopardize Michigan’s economy and hundreds of thousands of jobs. We must take proactive steps to secure our pipelines and ensure this type of spill never happens in the Great Lakes. It is a danger too significant to ignore.

“In 2011, John Dingell and Fred Upton worked together to pass a law to update and strengthen pipeline safety regulations following the tragic oil spill in the Kalamazoo River. More action is needed. Congress must pass legislation this year to implement higher standards for pipelines operating under the Great Lakes, as well as provide safety regulators the resources they need to do their jobs. Congresswoman Candice Miller and I are also closely monitoring the proposed use of pipelines under the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, which provide drinking water to millions, to ensure all risks are assessed and Michigan residents have an opportunity to make their voices heard. We must all work together to protect the Great Lakes, now and for the future.”

Earlier this month, Dingell and Miller wrote a letter to Secretary John Kerry urging him to extend the public comment period for Plains LPG Services’ proposed use of pipelines under the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers. The State Department agreed to reopen the public comment period for an additional 30 days. For more information, please click here.