There are currently two 61-year-old pipelines that cross through the Great Lakes at the Straits of Mackinac. These pipelines are owned by Enbridge Energy, the same company responsible for the largest and most costly inland oil spill in U.S. history, which spilled 1 million gallons into the Kalamazoo River watershed.
If either of those pipelines leaked, the resulting oil slick could shut down municipal drinking water for millions, devastate fisheries, wildlife refuges, and one of the region’s most popular tourist attractions: Mackinac Island.
In the summer of 2013, Enbridge increased pressure on these pipelines without obtaining a Presidential Permit, which requires a NEPA review and public comment. Considering the age and location, the operation of this pipeline should be under review.