Michigan Seeks Public Input on Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Wastewater Permit
Michigan regulators are seeking public comment through June 30 on Enbridge’s permit to discharge 6 million gallons of wastewater daily for the Line 5 tunnel project.
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Michigan environmental regulators announced Tuesday they are seeking public comment on Enbridge’s request to renew a wastewater discharge permit for the Line 5 tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will accept public input between May 19 and June 30 on Canadian pipeline company Enbridge’s application for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The permit would authorize the company to discharge up to 6 million gallons of wastewater daily into Lake Michigan across two separate sites.
Opposition Continues to Mount
Tribal nations and environmental groups throughout the Great Lakes region have repeatedly demanded the shutdown of Line 5, a 645-mile pipeline stretching from northwest Wisconsin to southwest Ontario. The pipeline includes a 4.5-mile segment located in the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge.
Pipeline opponents, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, have characterized Line 5 as a ticking time bomb. They point to the 2010 oil spill at Enbridge’s Line 6B and multiple anchor strikes that have damaged the dual pipelines as warning signs of what researchers describe as a potentially catastrophic oil spill within the Great Lakes.
Tunnel Project Faces Scrutiny
While Enbridge has agreed to replace the existing dual pipelines with a new segment housed within a utility tunnel embedded beneath the Straits of Mackinac bedrock, opponents warn the tunnel project carries its own environmental risks. Critics argue the construction could lead to the pipeline releasing oil and natural gas into the Great Lakes.
The wastewater permit represents one of several regulatory approvals Enbridge must secure before proceeding with tunnel construction. Environmental advocates have used previous permit proceedings to raise concerns about the project’s potential impact on the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Public Comment Process
Michigan residents and stakeholders can submit comments on the wastewater discharge permit application through June 30. The permit would govern how Enbridge manages construction-related wastewater during tunnel building activities.
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy will review all public comments before making a determination on the permit renewal. The agency has not announced when a final decision will be made.
The Line 5 tunnel project has faced years of legal challenges and regulatory review since Enbridge first proposed replacing the existing underwater pipeline segments. The company maintains the tunnel would provide enhanced safety compared to the current configuration while ensuring continued energy supply to Michigan and Ontario.
