The state’s pipeline safety board wants a controversial line temporarily shut down.
Enbridge’s Line Five has been under the microscope lately about problems with the protective coating.
Two weeks ago, the governor and Enbridge agreed to new safety measures for Line Five. The pipeline runs through the Straits of Mackinac.
But several board members say the deal doesn’t go far enough. They want the the line shut down until the issues with gaps in the protective coating are fixed. They also want a study that looks into Michigan-specific needs when it comes to Line Five.
Jennifer McKay is a board member. She says Michigan shouldn’t have to worry about how Enbridge gets its oil to market.
“That’s Enbridge’s job. Our job is to take care of our citizen’s needs and our natural resources.”
“It only makes sense to shut down the pipeline until Enbridge can adequately address and fix the coating issues to ensure that we don’t have any type of rupture or leak in the Straits of Mackinac.”
Sean McBrearty is with Oil and Water Don’t Mix.
“This undercuts this entire process that the Snyder administration has decided to drag the public through for the last three years. There’s been ample evidence that’s only gotten stronger that we need to decommission Line Five.”
Some members of the Pipeline Safety Advisory Board spoke out against the deal at a meeting Monday. They want the line shut down until gaps in its coating are fixed. And they want the governor to tighten safety standards.