It goes without saying that a major oil spill in the Great Lakes would cause catastrophic damage. Despite this, two aging pipelines push nearly 23 million gallons of oil through the Straits of Mackinac every day. Every day is one day closer to disaster in the largest surface freshwater system on Earth.
These “Line 5” pipelines are owned by Canadian company, Enbridge, and were built in 1953 through the Straits of Mackinac as a shorter route to transport oil than going around the tip of Lake Michigan. However, Enbridge clearly didn’t think that their more direct route would also be more dangerous. The pipelines were originally meant to run 120,000 barrels of oil each day, but that number continuously grew to eventually reach a frightening 540,000 barrels. The pipes were never expanded, replaced, or thickened; only the pressure was increased, putting more and more wear on these already worn out pipes.
Given the age, location, and condition, Line 5 has become extremely controversial and has received a lot of opposition from grassroots, indigenous, state, and federal groups.
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in Congress targeting Line 5. The “Preserve Our Lakes and Keep Our Environment Safe (LAKES) Act” would commission a 12-month study that will examine the economic and environmental risks that Line 5 poses to the Great Lakes. If the study concludes that Line 5 poses significant risk, then the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would have to shut it down. The bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to conduct the study, and Enbridge has agreed to pay nearly $3.6 million for the studies, regardless of the conclusion.
In Wisconsin, the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa tribe also voiced their concerns about Line 5. On January 4, 2017 the Bad River tribal council passed a formal resolution that denies Enbridge’s easements for Line 5. The resolution also calls for Line 5’s decommissioning and removal from all Bad River lands and watershed. While Enbridge hopes to reach an agreement, Tribal Chairman Robert Blanchard says the tribe will move forward with their decision and meet with local, state, and federal officials to evaluate how to remove the line.
Whether it’s Line 5 or the proposed Line 61-twin, Enbridge is sneaking around the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, and putting our people, our environment, and our future at risk. Line 5 is a direct and imminent threat to the Great Lakes, the source of much of our drinking water while the Line 61-twin would be among the world’s largest pipeline corridors running through the heart of our state. Wisconsin is repeatedly forced to assume the dangers of these pipelines while Enbridge takes all the profit. It should not be a question whether we prefer Line 5 or Line 61-twin when neither is necessary. It’s time to move beyond oil to clean transportation and renewable energy.
By Hannah Nowakowski, Chapter Tar Sands Pipeline Intern