A new study from Michigan State University estimates the cost of a spill from the Line 5 pipeline beneath the straits of Mackinac could top $6 billion.
The first of its kind study was commissioned by the environmental group For the Love of Water.
Dr. Robert Richardson is the study’s author. He says he created an estimate for environmental impact and local economic impact to shoreline communities…
“700 million plus 5.6 billion and a total of 6.3 billion.”
Richardson says his estimates for overall damage and spill size are conservative.
“What we are assuming with this scenario is a technological failure - the automatic safety response valve fails - and there is a delay in human response of up to two hours. This would result in a spill of up to 2.5 million gallons of oil or nearly 60,000 barrels of oil.”
In a written statement from Enbridge Energy, a spokesperson said their risk analysis found 5,000 barrels of oil is the worst case scenario for a spill.
Richardson said their cost estimates were built around damage assessments from other oil spills, including the Kalamazoo River.
“We interviewed more than thirty people. They ranged from multiple civil engineers, environmental engineers, tourism experts in the region that gave us information about the proportion of tourism in the county that was coastal tourism.”
The study was released after an anchor strike last month left dents in the line 5 pipeline, and as recently as last week Enbridge reduced the flow of oil through the pipe following the discovery of marring on the pipe.
A spokesperson for Enbridge called the study quote “fundamentally flawed.”
The full statement from Enbridge can be read below:
This FLOW-funded study is fundamentally flawed; it is based on an unrealistic volume of product potentially released. Enbridge has done extensive safety and risk planning on Line 5. We use worst-case scenarios with realistic numbers to identify and develop the various safety measures installed along the line. Our analysis indicates a potential worst case discharge at the Straits of Mackinac is approximately 5,000 barrels, which is less than one-tenth the volume assumed in this study. Automatic shut-off valves located on either side of the Straits of Mackinac will shut down flow of product into the line within minutes if there is a drop in pressure. We would immediately activate containment and clean up equipment and crews.
We appreciate and respect the efforts of all parties who are looking out for the best interest of the Great Lakes and we continually look for ways to make a safe pipeline safer. Working through risk scenarios, as we are doing in partnership with state and federal regulators, is certainly part of that work.