Rep. Miller on Enbridge Recommendations

Press Release

U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) issued the following statement after Michigan's Petroleum Pipeline Task Force issued its recommendations to address Enbridge's aging Pipeline 5 beneath the Straits of Mackinac:

"I applaud the Task Force for taking a tough stance and coming up with strong recommendations that will help safeguard the Great Lakes from the devastating impact an oil spill would be certain to have should Enbridge's aging pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac break. It wasn't long ago that we saw the devastating impact of a ruptured pipeline when Enbridge's 6B pipe spilled well over 800,000 gallons of crude oil in Marshall, MI.

"In 2009, a dent in that same pipeline, which runs through much of Southeast Michigan, was discovered in the portion that runs under the St. Clair River in my District. Given that the St. Clair River flows into Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River and Lake Erie, a similar rupture would be catastrophic. Therefore, I raised the dire matter at congressional oversight hearings, demanding action, and, fortunately, Enbridge was quick to respond and replaced the damaged pipeline beneath the St. Clair River. I point this out because the concerns over the aging pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac are very similar to the ones I raised just a few years ago with the same company, which ultimately did the right thing and replaced the pipeline.

"Throughout my entire tenure, one of my primary advocacies has been protecting the Great Lakes, which account for 20 percent of the fresh water drinking supply on the planet. I believe that we must employ every method at every level of government to preserve and protect them, which is why I appreciate the strong recommendations brought forth today by the Task Force and am hopeful that Enbridge will, again, do the right thing. Obviously, we need energy, and Canada is the largest foreign energy supplier to Michigan and the U.S. Therefore, it is important that we work together to ensure the safe delivery of their energy in a way that poses the least environmental and economic threat to the U.S."

Note: On September 15, 2010, Rep. Miller, a member of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called attention to a dent in the Enbridge pipeline that runs under the St. Clair River during a congressional hearing investigating the July 25, 2010, Enbridge 6B pipeline rupture in Marshall, MI that spilled over 800,000 gallons of crude oil into Talmadge Creek, which flows into the Kalamazoo River. The Enbridge Line 6B pipeline passes through much of Southeast Michigan before passing under the St. Clair River, where the dent was discovered, and terminating in Sarnia, Ontario. As a result of Rep. Miller's efforts, Enbridge replaced 3,450 feet of the 30-inch Line 6B pipeline that runs under the St. Clair River.

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