The Coast Guard says there is no timeline set for the release of a report on the anchor strike last year on the Line 5 pipeline.
The anchor drop also ruptured several other lines running under the straits, resulting in the release of about 600 gallons of dielectric fluid.
The Straits of Mackinac Alliance is a coalition of concerned citizens living along the coastline of the Straits. It’s calling on the Coast Guard to release the anchor strike report.
Ross Hammersley is an Attorney Representing the Alliance. He said members of the group think the report could show how prepared the Coast Guard is for a Line 5 spill.
“They are really hoping that this report can be released as soon as possible so that the public has a better sense of A) what happened B) how people response and C) what that can tell us about potential spill response in a subsequent event.”
Chief Petty Officer Bobby Nash is with the Coast Guard. He said the investigation has been completed at the local level and has been sent to headquarters for further review.
“I’m not allowed to speculate how long they may take to do that. On average some reports can take up to years, I’m not saying this one will, but really it’s not going to be fruitful to try and guess how long it would take.”
Hammersley, representing the Straits of Mackinac Alliance, said transparency is essential to protect the region.