In December, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed an agreement requiring Enbridge, the owner of Line 5, to take immediate steps to improve environmental protection for the Great Lakes and other state waterways.
“Business as usual by Enbridge is not acceptable, and we are going to ensure the highest level of environmental safety standards are implemented to protect one of Michigan’s most valuable natural resources,” says Gov. Snyder. “The items required in this agreement are good strides forward. The state is evaluating the entire span of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline and its future, but we cannot wait for the analyses to be completed before taking action to defend our waterways.”
The state is requiring Enbridge to increase transparency by providing the state an opportunity to participate in evaluations of the pipeline. Snyder’s agreement also requires Enbridge to:
- • Replace the portion of Line 5 that crosses beneath the St. Clair River.
• Undertake a study, in conjunction with the state, on the placement of a new pipeline or the existing dual pipelines in a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
• Temporarily shut down operation of Line 5 in the straits during periods of sustained adverse weather condition.
• Assess the possible installation of underwater technologies, including cameras, to better monitor the pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
To read the agreement in its entirety, visit michigan.gov.
