Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline cuts beneath the Great Lakes, stretching over 600 miles and crossing beneath the Straits of Mackinac. For decades, the pipeline has raised concerns because of its potential to spill oil and contaminate water for millions of Americans. This water is also a source of sustenance, culture and sovereignty for tribal communities.   

Now, Enbridge has a proposal on the table to build a new oil tunnel to replace a section of Line 5. The Canadian oil and gas company says this will address aging infrastructure.

In a statement emailed to WDET, Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said, in part, that “Enbridge is working with state and federal agencies to study and develop plans that will minimize and mitigate impacts to the natural environment, natural resources, cultural heritage and community priorities.”

Duffy said Enbridge “will build the Great Lakes Tunnel safely, in conformity with thorough safety and environmental reviews by permitting agencies.”

An executive order from the Trump administration could expedite the construction of this project.

But advocates argue that the construction of this new oil tunnel and potential leaks from it pose numerous threats, especially to tribal fishing rights and livelihoods.

Andrea Pierce, a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and the policy director at Michigan Environmental Justice Coalition, is among the tribal activists speaking out against this project. She sat down with The Metro’s Robyn Vincent on the shores of Mackinac Island ahead of a rally protesting the proposed oil tunnel. 

Use the media player above to hear the full conversation.

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This story has been updated with a statement from Enbridge.

Enbridge is a financial supporter of WDET. Our newsroom observes a clear boundary between funders and editorial content, and we do not serve the agendas of those who support us.

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Experts and advocates with Oil and Water Don’t Mix said they don’t trust the federal government to properly vet Enbridge’s Great Lakes Tunnel Project.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expedited the permitting process for the project, which would cover the section of Line 5 that travels under the Straits of Mackinac.

The shortened timeline isn’t enough to confirm the project is safe, said Sean McBrearty, an organizer with the advocacy group.

“We’ve seen that we are not going to be able to trust the Trump administration to protect the Great Lakes,” he said. “And the Army Corps decision last week made that crystal clear, if it wasn’t before.”

The project is responding to what the Trump administration believes is “an energy emergency” under President Donald Trump’s January executive order “Declaring a National Energy Emergency,” the Corps said in a memo circulated last week. The order argues that the U.S. is too reliant on foreign energy and needs to increase domestic oil and gas production to protect national security.

The proposed tunnel around Line 5 would provide an extra layer of protection for the pipeline, according to Enbridge. The Canadian pipeline carries crude oil and natural gas liquids through the United States.

Advocates are concerned the tunnel won’t be effective and could actually do more harm to the bottomlands under the straits. That’s the land underneath the water in the lakes. It’s publicly owned, according to Michigan law.

Advocates with Oil and Water Don’t Mix said they want an independent review of Enbridge’s plans for the tunnel’s construction.

That includes Brian O’Mara, a geological engineer with decades of experience. The review process should take much longer than the fast-tracked plan the corps approved last week, he said.

“It’s really come down to the state of Michigan,” he said. “And hopefully they can do the right thing and give this project the scrutiny and the review that it deserves.” O’Mara said the bedrock underneath the straits is too fragile to support the tunnel project.

Enbridge has previously made its case before the Michigan Public Service Commission, where O’Mara testified. The commission didn’t find any problems with the company’s plans, Enbridge said in a statement.

The company has been working with the state and federal governments to reduce any negative impacts the tunnel could have, Enbridge said in a statement.

It’s also partnering with companies that have previously built tunnels in similar environments, the statement said.

But Enbridge still needs a permit from Michigan’s Submerged Lands Program. The advocacy group will direct their energy there, McBrearty said.

“We are going to focus on the state processes that are still functioning here in Michigan, rather than a dysfunctional and dishonest federal process.”

Editor’s note: Enbridge is among Michigan Public’s corporate sponsors.