M Live - Change Region Sen. Gary Peters 'Very Concerned' About Enbridge Pipeline in Straits of Mackinac

News Article

By Kyle Feldscher

The 62-year-old pipeline carrying oil through the Straits of Mackinac is getting lots of attention this week, and one of Michigan's senators says the issue is on his radar.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, told MLive Wednesday he's ready to look into the safety of Enbridge Energy's Line 5. That particular line has been the subject of protests, both before and at the Mackinac Policy Conference, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual event on Mackinac Island.

Peters said he's "very concerned" about the pipeline, along with other pipelines in the Great Lakes. He pointed to the calamitous oil spill from an Enbridge line in the Kalamazoo River in 2010 as one reason why he's sensitive to the issue.

"As devastating as that was in the Kalamazoo River, one can only imagine how catastrophic a pipeline would be in the Great Lakes, and certainly here in the Straits of Mackinac," he said.

A report issued by a coalition of environmental groups Wednesday recommended shutting the pipeline down immediately. The report stated acidic zebra mussel secretions have compromised the pipeline. The steel pipeline also is coated with coal tar enamel, called obsolete by the report, that has failed on other Enbridge lines.

Attorney General Bill Schuette's office and the Department of Environmental Quality are jointly working on a state report on the pipeline. That's set to be issued next month.

During Gov. Rick Snyder's opening remarks at the Mackinac Policy Conference, a group of protestors interrupted him to talk about the pipeline. Protestors also were present as conference attendees boarded ferries to get to the island Tuesday and also are present on the island.

Peters said he's looking forward to the re-authorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which comes before one of his Senate committees this fall.

He said he'd use that as an opportunity to ask tough questions about the line beneath the Straits.

Source