Federal officials approved a key permit on Wednesday to allow for the construction of Enbridge Inc.’s 3.6-mile tunnel to replace the Line 5 pipeline under the Straights of Mackinac.
The permit, issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), marks the last federal hurdle the Canada-based energy company needed to clear for the project to move forward.
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“This has been a very carefully weighed decision,” said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Donald K. Lew in a news release. “The approval of the Enbridge Line 5 tunnel permit application is the culmination of a robust and thorough evaluation process. The Detroit District team worked extensively with and appropriately considered the views of various federal and state resource agencies, Tribes, and the applicant. I am confident that we have granted authorization for a thoroughly vetted proposal that will meet the purpose and need for the project while maximizing protection of natural resources.”
Line 5, which transports light crude oil and natural gas liquids across 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarnia, Ontario, crosses the Straits of Mackinac over a distance of roughly 3.7 miles, resting on the lakebed at depths up to about 240 feet. The single 30-inch pipeline splits into two 20-inch pipelines as it crosses the Straights, according to USACE.
Enbridge submitted permit applications to state and federal regulators in April 2020 to replace the aging pipeline. However, the project’s potential impact on local waterways and ecosystems immediately sparked concerns from environmental groups about potential violations to the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.
Related: Does Line 5 put Michigan’s Great Lakes at risk for a ‘catastrophic’ oil spill?
Following an “extensive review” of risks associated with the project via environmental assessments and public hearings, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved two environmental permits last month to allow the project to move forward.
Less than two weeks after those permits were issued, however, the Michigan Supreme Court held in a 6-1 decision that state regulators didn’t fully evaluate the project’s environmental impacts.
Whitney Gravelle, president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, was among many local activists lauding the Supreme Court decision, which will require the Michigan Public Service Commission to reevaluate Enbridge’s proposal before construction can move ahead.
“The Straits of Mackinac are not simply a route for an oil pipeline to be abused,” she said. “They are sacred waters, the heart of creation for Anishinaabe people, and a source of life for millions. Some things are simply too sacred to be buried beneath a tunnel. Our work continues, and we remain committed to protecting the Great Lakes for generations to come.”