Press Releases
Dingell, Trott Demand Comprehensive Study of Enbridge Line 5Dingell, Trott call to shut down Enbridge Line 5 if comprehensive study finds pipeline poses significant risk to Great Lakes
Washington, DC,
January 12, 2017
Today, U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Dave Trott (MI-11) introduced the Preserve Our Lakes and Keep our Environment Safe (LAKES) Act, which would require the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) to terminate the operation of Enbridge’s Line 5 should a 12-month comprehensive study required by the legislation find the pipeline poses a significant risk. “If ruptured, the Line 5 Pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac poses a serious threat to the entire Great Lakes region, our environment and our economy,” said Rep. Dingell. “A University of Michigan study found last year that more than 700 miles of shoreline in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are potentially vulnerable to an oil spill in the Straits, jeopardizing the Great Lakes ecosystem and hundreds of thousands of jobs. This legislation would allow the Department of Transportation to thoroughly study the condition and integrity of the underwater pipes and facilities in the Straits of Mackinac. If PHMSA finds the conditions of the pipes to be a significant risk to the environment and public health, the operations of Line 5 will be shut down.” “Accounting for one-fifth of the world’s fresh surface water, the Great Lakes are one of the most critical ecosystems in the entire world. Supporting over $20 billion in recreation and commercial industries a year they are also a backbone of not only Michigan’s economy, but the entire country,” said Rep. Trott. “However, more than 23 million gallons of contaminants are transported under the Straits of Mackinac every day, and while I understand that we need this energy, pumping millions of gallons through poorly inspected pipelines is careless and irresponsible. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. We need a comprehensive study and regular inspections that ensure we are doing everything we can to transport this energy in a way that does not threaten our Great Lakes, and if Enbridge Line 5 is found to be inconsistent with this mission – shut it down.” Last year, the University of Michigan Water Center released a study which estimated that over 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline could be impacted in a rupture of Enbridge Line 5. A PDF of the full bill text is available here. The Preserve Our Lakes and Keep our Environment Safe (LAKES) Act: |