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DETROIT- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline tunnel project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) scoping process with the Notice of Intent (NOI) publishing in the Federal Register Monday.
The NOI informs the public of the upcoming environmental analysis and describes how the public can become involved in the EIS process for the Enbridge's Line 5 Pipeline Tunnel project proposal to cross the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Michigan.
"The Notice of Intent starts the scoping process, the 60-day period in which the Corps of Engineers solicits Tribal Nation, agency and public input to help define the range of issues and potential alternatives the EIS should address," said Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Brett Boyle. "The Corps of Engineers will ensure all voices are heard in an open, transparent and public EIS process."
Tribal Nations, agencies, communities, organizations, citizens and other stakeholders can provide input during the 60-day scoping process, open now through October 14, 2022. Submissions are accepted via mail, through the project website or at in-person or virtual public meetings held during the scoping period.
"The scoping process is not a vote," said Boyle. "Comments should help identify areas for in-depth review, including historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects and other public interest factors. This is a great opportunity to have an impact in the Corps of Engineers scoping process for developing the Draft EIS."
For more information on developing effective scoping comments, submitting comments, or public meeting information, please visit: www.Line5TunnelEIS.com.All comments, oral or written, are weighed equally.
In March 2022, the Detroit District selected Maryland-based Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc., as the third-party contractor to prepare the EIS for Enbridge's proposed Line 5 Tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac.
Enbridge pays for the EIS, but the contractor is under the Corps of Engineers direction while preparing the EIS. The Corps of Engineers is responsible for the EIS scope and content to ensure an independent review, with assistance from cooperating agencies.
In June 2021, then-acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jaime A. Pinkham announced the Corps of Engineers would proceed with an EIS, concluding an EIS is the most appropriate level of review because of the potential for impacts significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
"Per Mr. Pinkham's announcement, it is extremely important the Corps of Engineers ensure all potential impacts and reasonable alternatives associated with this project are thoroughly analyzed as it will ultimately support the permit application decision," said Boyle.
Detroit District previously conducted two public comment periods, May 15 – July 14, 2020, and November 6 – December 17, 2020, receiving more than 15,000 public comments and Tribal input on the proposed project during those periods. The EIS process requires additional public comment periods.
For the Line 5 tunnel project, Enbridge Energy is proposing to construct a tunnel under the bed of the Straits of Mackinac between Point LaBarbe, St. Ignace and McGulpin Point, Mackinaw City, Michigan. The tunnel would house a new 30-inch pipeline for light crude oil and liquid natural gas, replacing the existing dual submerged pipelines crossing the Straits of Mackinac, which have been in operation since 1953.
Corps of Engineers officials estimate a Draft EIS will be available for public review and comment Fall of 2023.