Deny USACE Permit Petition

PETITION

I request that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in connection with Enbridge Energy’s application for a Department of the Army permit for a massive fossil fuel tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac.

The project submitted by Enbridge is intentionally designed to avoid full review under the law and thorough analysis. Enbridge characterizes its project as replacing an old dual pipeline system in the Straits of Mackinac to continue transporting crude oil and petroleum liquids between the peninsulas of Michigan. In fact, the project would irreversibly commit the natural and other resources of the United States, Michigan, and the Great Lakes for another 99 years and presents unacceptable risks to those resources.

A project of this magnitude, with its potential for causing significant harm to public trust resources, must be very carefully and thoroughly considered. The Army Corps must prepare an EIS under NEPA because Enbridge’s proposed tunnel activity constitutes a “Major Federal Action Significantly Affecting the Quality of the Human Environment.” The need for a full EIS that analyzes the project as submitted by Enbridge and the entire 645-mile Line 5 pipeline is required, as detailed in the July 14, 2020 comments submitted to the Army Corps by 10 organizations representing tribal, environmental, and other citizens groups.

In addition, since those comments were submitted, additional information has also revealed the need for an EIS under NEPA:

1. Significant flaws in Enbridge's tunnel proposal, including mischaracterization of the geological formations that will be encountered, a lack of geotechnical research, the tunnel design and alignment, and the potential for devastating outcomes due to poor planning and cutting corners in research and design.
2. A potentially significant archeological finding at the proposed tunnel project site subject to the National Historic Preservation Act.