Videos

Enbridge released a video with their scattershot reasoning to convince Michiganders that Line 5 is critical. The video is misleading - it's not about Michigan. It's about their profiting from routing oil through the Great Lakes, and this is unacceptable. Our new video exposes the truth behind the Enbridge lies.

The Facts 

#1 - At least 90% of Line 5 oil comes from Canada and goes back into Canada. Line 5 is a Canadian shortcut through the heart of the Great Lakes.

Street, Gary. (2015, December 14). Eliminating the Line 5 Oil Pipelines’ Unacceptable Risk to the Great Lakes Through a Comprehensive Alternatives Analysis and Systems Approach. Link

#2 - Line 5 only supplies 40 - 50% of the propane to the Upper Peninsula, which could be delivered with a 4-inch pipeline.

Street, Gary. (2015, December 14). Eliminating the Line 5 Oil Pipelines’ Unacceptable Risk to the Great Lakes Through a Comprehensive Alternatives Analysis and Systems Approach. Link

#3- The relatively limited amount of oil is a drop in the bucket and does not make this pipeline critical to Michigan.

Street, Gary. (2015, December 14). Eliminating the Line 5 Oil Pipelines’ Unacceptable Risk to the Great Lakes Through a Comprehensive Alternatives Analysis and Systems Approach. Link

#4 - The Great Lakes are 84% of North America’s available surface freshwater.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ( 2017, September 12). The Great Lakes Facts and Figures. https://www.epa.gov/greatlakes/great-lakes-facts-and-figures

#5 - Over 23,000 citizens and 100’s of businesses of Michigan called for the decommissioning of Line 5. The people don’t want your way forward.

Oil and Water Don’t Mix. (2017). Alternatives Analysis Public Feedback Session. http://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/alternatives_analysis_public_feedback_session_20171206

#6 - Before making their deal, Enbridge and Snyder did not consult the PSAB.

Ellison, G. (2017, November 27). Line 5 shut down still an option says Michigan energy director. MLive.

#7 - There are 42 areas of missing coating. Out of 48, the majority of inspected areas were damaged in some way. Records show that in at least one of the areas, the installation of the replacement supports for Line 5 pipeline caused the coating damage.

Matheny, K. (2017, November 14). Enbridge discloses ‘dozens’ more gaps in Straits of Mackinac pipeline’s protective coating. Detroit Free Press.

#8 - Brad Shamla has stated that the Line 5 pipeline can operate indefinitely.

Ellison, G. (2016, June 9). Enbridge VP: Mackinac pipeline can operate indefinitely. MLive.

#9 - Dynamic worked for Enbridge in the past, was working with Enbridge while writing the report, and probably will in the future.

Vitari, I. (2017, July 11). While Reviewing Enbridge’s Line 5 for Michigan, Contractor Worked for Same Pipeline Company in Minnesota. Desmog.

#10 - Five federally recognized Native American Tribes passed a resolution against any kind of tunnel through their tribal fishing grounds.

(2017, November 29). Tribes oppose tunnel under Straits of Mackinac. The Sault News.

#11 - Enbridge can’t get a state permit for a new pipeline in the Straits until proving it can’t use its existing pipeline network instead. This they can’t do.

Jim Olson. Environmental Attorney at FLOW (For Love Of Water).

#12 - Enbridge employs 250 people in the State of Michigan.

About Line 5. http://www.enbridge.com/projects-and-infrastructure/public-awareness/line-5-michigan/about-line-5

#13 - One-fifth of all Michigan jobs rely on a healthy Great Lakes.

Campbell, M. (2015, April 7). Report: 1 in 5 Michigan jobs is water-related. The Detroit Free Press.

#14 - 30,000,000 people drink Great Lakes water.

NOAA - Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. About Our Lakes: Great Lakes Basin Facts. https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/education/ourlakes/facts.html