This partial slide comes from the full presentation of the Alternatives Analysis presented at the July 6, 2017. Threat number 1 is that an anchor drops and bursts a pipeline - or even both pipelines as Line 5 spilts into two twenty inch pipelines as it transports nearly 23 million gallons of oil per day under the Straits. There was major concern about this in 1953 when Line 5 was built. In April 2018, a 6 ton anchor struck Line 5 and was dragged for two days more before being discovered. This anchor drop and drag dented the pipelines and cut three underwater power cables nearby which released about 800 gallons of oil. In June 2020, while divers were doing repair work Enbridge discovered previously undetected damage to an anchor support of an “unknown nature” that was serious enough for them to voluntarily shut down both pipelines voluntarily. On June 25, 2020 Circuit Court Judge James Jamo granted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s request to temporarily shut down the pipeline. On November 13, 2020, Governor Whitmer and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) notified Enbridge that the 1953 easement allowing it to operate dual pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac to transport petroleum and other products is being revoked and terminated. They also filed a lawsuit asking the Ingham County Circuit Court to recognize the validity of this action. The state is revoking the easement for violation of the public trust doctrine, given the unreasonable risk that continued operation of the dual pipelines poses to the Great Lakes. Moreover, the state is terminating the easement based on Enbridge’s persistent and incurable violations of the easement’s terms and conditions. However, this does not mean the fight is done. It is fully expected that Enbridge will contest this.
Overviews - for the latest, go to Retire Line 5 FB page
Inadvertent Discovery…
While working to get an independent look at Line 5, a group of volunteers discovered sites that are likely to be of current cultural and historical significance.
USA Today Oct. 14, 2020/photo by Philip Hutchinson
On June 30, 2020 Chairman Bryan Newland of the Bay Mills Indian Community was interviewed about Line 5 in a Speaking of Resilience Podcast. This podcast includes information about the most recent events, the Temporary Restraining Order issued by Judge James Jamo, local organizations concerned about Line 5, and the tribal rights which are being violated and why they matter. It is worth a listen.
This 8 minute video from July 2015 still gives a good overview of Line 5. Note that at the 5:00 minute mark, Enbridge spokesperson Jason Manshun says, "It (Line 5) hasn't aged... the coating is in fantastic shape and the steel has not deteriorated, it looks just like it did in 1953". Later, we learned that Line 5's coating has gaps (which Enbridge knew about years before publicly admitting). Also note that already there were 29 independently documented spills at other parts of Line 5.
In 46 minutes, this film made by Michigan State University allows those involved in the fight over Line 5 to speak for themselves. You will hear Indigenous perspectives as well as a representative from the Enbridge company. It starts with a quick overview of the Marshall spill in 2010 which closed 35 miles of the Kalamazoo River for 2 years.
In about 90 minutes, learn a lot from various presenters - including Republican and a Democratic Congressmen who agree about the threat this oil pipeline is to our Great Lakes and its economy. Hear from UM Graham's Sustainability Institute, Dave Schwab, about why the Straits of Mackinac is the "worst place in the Great Lakes an oil spill could happen" because of the quickly changing, strong currents, and Sean McBrearty from Oil & Water Don't Mix. These presentations were made at the forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area on June 21, 2017.
Grass Roots Efforts
Great Lakes Business Network
The purpose of the Great Lakes Business Network is to coordinate and elevate the voices of business leaders to protect the lakes from environmental threats. This network of business leaders believes that the risks posed by the Line 5 oil pipeline crossing of the Straits of Mackinac are too high as compared to the benefits. They support decommissioning Line 5 in a strategic manner that minimizes any potential economic disruptions.
Oil and Water Don't Mix
The Oil and Water Don’t Mix campaign brings 228 businesses, 77 organizations, 15 tribes, numerous cities & villages, faith communities* and many individual citizens across Michigan together to keep oil out of the Great Lakes. As a result of placing third in a nationwide fundraising contest sponsored by Patagonia and Moosejaw in 2014, Oil and Water Don’t Mix was able to develop a website and make the Public Service Announcement shown to the right to raise awareness of the threat Enbridge Line 5 presents to our Great Lakes water and way of life by its vulnerable location under the water next to the Mackinaw Bridge.
*as of June 13, 2017
Non-Profits very involved with Line 5 research
Clean Water Action
Clean Water Action organizes strong grassroots groups and coalitions, and campaigns to elect environmental candidates and to solve environmental and community problems. It was founded during the campaign to pass the landmark Clean Water Act in 1972.
FLOW - For the Love of Water
FLOW is dedicated to working with citizens, communities, and businesses to convince the State of Michigan to uphold its public trust responsibilities to protect the Great Lakes and bottomlands by immediately shutting down the oil flowing through Line 5 at the Mackinac Straits while the state studies alternatives.
National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Regional Center
National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Regional Center has been a leader in protecting the Great Lakes for the wildlife and humans that depend on this invaluable resource since 1982. They have been at the forefront of investigation and research on Line 5. They have a number of engaging videos and have a lot of info on their site..
Tribes
Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (CORA)
The Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority (“CORA”) was established by the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (collectively, “the Tribes”) for the purpose of ensuring the conservation and wise utilization of the natural resources reserved to the Tribes in the Treaty of March 28, 1836. Enbridge Line 5 is a direct threat to their treaty rights and they are very involved with efforts to protect the Straits