Straits of Mackinac (Canstock Photo by ehrlif)Straits of Mackinac (Canstock Photo by ehrlif)
Sarnia

Enbridge partially reopening Line 5 beneath Straits of Mackinac

Calgary-based Enbridge is resuming partial operation of a controversial section of pipeline running beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

On Wednesday, the Ingham County Circuit Court of the State of Michigan amended its temporary restraining order requiring Enbridge to temporarily shut down the west leg of its Line 5 dual pipelines.

Last month Enbridge shut down the dual lines after discovering that an anchor support had shifted on the east leg. The company had reopened the west leg but it was closed again following court action by the State of Michigan.

As a result of the July 1 ruling, Enbridge said it will now begin safely restarting the west segment and anticipates operations will soon return to normal. In a statement, the company said it will “conduct an inline inspection tool run on the west segment and share the findings with the state in accordance with the court’s orders.”

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley welcomes the court ruling.

He said shutting down Line 5 would have very negative consequences for Sarnia-Lambton's economy and would impact Michigan too because 50 per cent of the propane the state uses comes through the pipeline.

"Enbridge has a responsibility too, though, to make sure that it's the safest pipeline that it possibly can be," said Bradley. "So hopefully this breathing space they now have with the court decision they can move forward and do all the things that they promised to do."

Enbridge said the east segment of Line 5 will remain shut down as it works with its safety regulator, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, to ensure all of the safety assessments are complete and data is provided prior to restarting the east leg.

“Enbridge is committed to sharing this information with the State of Michigan to keep them informed regarding our inspections of the east segment,” the statement read. “Enbridge’s Line 5 has served Michiganders safely without incident at the straits crossing for more than 65 years. We remain willing to work with the state going forward to address issues of concern about the safety of Line 5 and its ultimate replacement with The Great Lakes Tunnel that will contain a new section of pipeline.”

Enbridge said it’s currently seeking permit approval of the 6.4-kilometre tunnel under the straits which, upon completion, will make the pipeline even safer.

Michigan’s attorney general wants the line permanently shut down and litigation is ongoing.

Mayor Bradley said he supports the plan for a new buried tunnel.

"For someone who is a great defender of the Great Lakes and water quality, it appears to be way beyond what they have to do to protect the Great Lakes. So I would hope at some point the governor would recognize that this is a battle that is not good for Michigan and is not good for Ontario," he said.

Line 5, built-in 1953, runs between Superior, Wisconsin and Sarnia and carries oil and natural gas liquids used in propane to industries in Sarnia and elsewhere in the province and Quebec.

-With files from Josh Boyce

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