Gov. Rick Snyder: Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board Will Help Protect Great Lakes, Natural Resources
Press Release
Gov. Rick Snyder today issued an executive order creating the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board and announced an agreement with Enbridge Energy Co. to further preserve and protect Michigan's environment including our lakes, rivers and other world-class resources.
Executive Order 2015-11 establishes the 15-member board to ensure safety, upkeep and transparency of issues related to the state's network of pipelines. It will also be charged with advising state agencies on matters related to pipeline routing, construction, operation, and maintenance.
The board, consisting of industry, environmental and conservation representatives, cabinet members and members of the public was one of 13 recommendations included in the Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force's July report and will be housed in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
"While pipelines are an efficient way to deliver necessary energy to power our homes, our communities and our economy, pipeline spills also have negatively impacted our natural resources in the past," Snyder said. "We remain fully committed to protecting our Great Lakes and natural resources, and this board will be charged with continuing the important work of safeguarding our environment while ensuring safe, affordable and reliable energy."
In addition, the state and Enbridge Energy Co. today signed an agreement preventing the future passage of heavy crude oil through Enbridge's Line 5 pipelines running under the Straits of Mackinac. The agreement was signed by MDEQ Director Dan Wyant, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh and Attorney General Bill Schuette.
Additionally, the administration looks forward to working with the legislature this fall on a bill to increase civil fines in the event of an oil spill in Michigan.
Moving forward, the state continues to work on implementation of the 11 additional recommendations in the task force report.
Snyder appointed the following members to the new board:
Dan Wyant, director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Wyant will serve as a co-chair.
Valerie Brader, the executive director of the Michigan Agency of Energy. Brader will serve as a co-chair.
Bill Schuette, Michigan Attorney General, or his designee.
Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or his designee.
Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the Michigan State Police has designated Capt. Chris Kelenske, commander of the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
John Quackenbush, chairperson of the Michigan Public Service Commission, or his designee.
Jerome Popiel, of Avon Lake, OH, assumed duties as Incident Management and Preparedness Advisor, Ninth Coast Guard District, in 2011. He is also co-chair of Regional Response Team (Region 5) and the Joint Response Team for the Canada and U. S. Great Lakes region. He is a 1992 graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. On behalf of the Rear Admiral June Ryan of the Ninth Coast Guard District, Popiel represents federal response and recovery agencies.
Jennifer McKay, of Petoskey, is the policy specialist for Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. She serves on the Emmet County Local Emergency Planning Committee, Northern Michigan Area Committee, Healing Our Waters -- Great Lakes Coalition Steering Committee, and the Bay Harbor Regional Stakeholder Group. McKay earned bachelor's degrees in environmental and political studies from Michigan State University. She represents environmental groups.
Michael Shriberg, of Ann Arbor, is Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. He previously served as education director at Graham Sustainability Institute and worked as a lecturer at the University of Michigan. Shriberg earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University, and a master's degree and Ph.D. in environmental studies from the University of Michigan. He represents statewide conservation groups.
Brad Shamla, of Eden Prairie, MN, is vice president of U.S. operations at Enbridge Energy Co. and has been with the company for more than two decades. He is a licensed professional engineer and earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota. He represents pipeline operators.
Craig Pierson, of Bowling Green, OH, is president of Marathon Pipe Line LLC, where he has served as vice president of operations and as region manager for crude products pipelines in the Gulf Coast, Wyoming, and mid-south. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Ohio Northern University. He represents the oil and gas industry.
Guy Meadows, of Hancock, is director of the Great Lakes Research Center and an adjunct professor in geological and mining engineering and sciences at Michigan Technological University. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree in mechanical engineering from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in marine science from Purdue University. He represents public universities
Christopher (Chris) Shepler, of Harbor Springs, is president of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service. He was appointed to the Citizens National Bank Board of Directors in 2014 and serves on the Mackinaw City Municipality as the chairman of the Downtown Development Authority. He studied economics at Ohio Wesleyan University and geography and marine affairs at the University of Rhode Island. He represents the hospitality and tourism industry.
Jeffrey Pillon, of East Lansing, is director of Energy Assurance and Midwest Regional Coordinator for National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). He also served more than 36 years with the MPSC and State Energy Office. He has a special term appointment to Argonne National Laboratory, Infrastructure Assurance Center. Pillon earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. He represents consultants with experience in pipeline operations and safety.
Robert (Craig) Hupp, of Grosse Pointe, is a member of Bodman PLC, and has represented clients in commercial, environmental, and local government litigation, specializing in complex, multi-party matters during his more than 32 years of law practice. Hupp earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Virginia, a graduate certificate and law degree from Wayne State University, and a master's in engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia. He represents the general public.
Members will serve terms expiring December 31, 2018. Their appointments are not subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
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