NORTHEN MICHIGAN — State environmental regulators are asking the public to weigh in on Enbridge Energy’s plan to build surface facilities for the proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. Comments are open through Friday, Aug. 29.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is reviewing the permit application under Part 303, Wetlands Protection, and Part 325, Great Lakes Submerged Lands, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended.
A public notice published July 16 began EGLE’s full review of the project.
Two virtual meetings will be held. The first, an informational session, is Tuesday, Aug. 12, and will include a question-and-answer segment on the application and review process. The second, a formal public hearing, is Tuesday, Aug. 19, when comments will be entered into the record.
To register for the informational meeting, visit bit.ly/453Af0y. Those without internet access can join by phone at 1-636-651-3142 using conference code 374288. Registration for the Aug. 19 hearing is at bit.ly/4tzOlXF.
Additional comments can be submitted online through Aug. 29 at michigan.gov/egle/publicnotice/info/7491647377809955234/details.
Representatives said it is common for EGLE to request applicants “consider additional modifications to the project, and provide additional information” during review.
If approved, the tunnel would replace the more than 70-year-old Line 5 dual-product pipelines lying on the lakebed within the Straits.
