Michigan Wants Records from Enbridge About Pipeline Under Lake Michigan

"Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 goes right under Lake Michigan at the Straits of Mackinac.

At the Straits, it splits into two pipelines. Both pipelines are 63 years old (they were installed in 1953).

Right now, we don’t have all the information about the condition of those pipelines. As we’ve reported many times, Enbridge holds all the cards. The company has shared some information with the public, but not a lot.


State officials recently asked the company for more details about the condition of Line 5. They want records to verify what Enbridge has been saying all along – that the pipelines are safe.

One of the main things state officials want is records and reports from the company’s inline inspection tools. These are tools that run through the inside of the pipelines – kind of like an ultrasound machine. They provide the best information about the condition of these pipelines."

Mark Brush reports for Michigan Radio March 24, 2016.