(WWJ) The company that operates oil Pipeline 5 under the Straits of Mackinac has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the state from shutting it down.
Enbridge filed the complaint in federal court in west Michigan. The company says the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is the safety regulator in charge -- and not the state of Michigan.
Enbridge says a review of the pipelines three months ago found that they were fit for service, and that shutting them down would cause all kinds of problems.
"In the face of continued roadblocks by this Administration it's time for the State to stop playing politics with the energy needs and anxieties of US and Canadian consumers and businesses that depend on Line 5," said Vern Yu, Executive Vice President and President, Liquids Pipelines, in a statement.
"It is concerning to see the current Administration is willing to compromise these needs. We remain highly committed to protecting the Great Lakes, the environment, and all the people who use these waters while delivering energy that people rely on daily. Enbridge's Line 5 has served Michiganders safely without spilling a drop of oil at the Straits crossing for more than 65 years, over nine different State Administrations."
Enbridge claims a disruption of Line 5 would create a propane shortage, higher energy prices and hardship for Michigan families, especially those on fixed incomes or of modest means. It would also result in a daily shortage of over 14 million gallons of gasoline and other transportation fuels, impacting the entire region, including Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ontario, and Quebec. Ten regional refineries would be significantly and adversely impacted, Enbridge said.
Earlier this month, the state notified Enbridge that it is revoking and terminating an easement allowing the company to operate Line 5, and would shut it down in May.
The governor's office says the lawsuit defies the people of Michigan and their right to protect the Great Lakes against a "catastrophic oil spill."
