The following is a statement from Patagonia Fulton Market (Chicago) assistant manager Jason Wilhite on what’s at stake if the Enbridge Line 5 “oil tunnel” project proceeds.
The Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, form one of the most significant freshwater corridors in the world. It’s also where a foreign oil and gas company responsible for one of the worst inland oil spills in U.S. history is proposing construction of an oil tunnel, the likes of which have never been attempted in a watershed of such deep significance and importance.
If you value protecting our Great Lakes, it’s time to get loud.
The tunnel project, proposed by Enbridge Inc, would involve a minimum of six years of blasting and drilling beneath the lakebed of the Straits. According to the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), construction of the tunnel could result in permanent damage to wetlands, groundwater contamination, disruption to fish habitats and 20,000 gallons of drilling fluid spilling into the waters. Additionally, tunnel engineering and pipeline safety experts have expressed several concerns about the project, arguing that methane intrusion risks and tunnel design flaws could lead to a pipeline rupture.
What would an oil spill in the heart of the Straits look like? University of Michigan Water Center researcher Dave Schwab simulated 840 hypothetical spill cases, finding that more than 700 miles of shoreline in Lakes Michigan and Huron are vulnerable to spill risk due to the extraordinarily variable currents in the Straits. Water flows bidirectionally between the two lakes, moving up to 80,000 cubic meters per second—greater than 10 times the average flow of water over Niagara Falls.
As Schwab concluded, the Straits are “the worst possible place for an oil spill in the Great Lakes.”
Enbridge’s track record in the Midwest doesn’t bolster much confidence either.
In 2010, Enbridge’s Line 6B spilled over 1 million gallons into the Kalamazoo River in perhaps the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history. The rupture went undetected by Enbridge for 17 hours, impacting 1,560 acres of wildlife habitats and closing recreational areas for several years. Then last winter, Enbridge’s Line 6A spilled in Southern Wisconsin. Enbridge initially reported a 2-gallon spill in November, revising that to 69,300 gallons a month later. The accident report claimed that once again, the pipeline’s leak detection systems did not notify anyone of a leak.
Lines 6A and 6B were constructed between 1969 and 1969—16 years after the construction of Line 5, which transports mostly Canadian crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisc., to Ontario.
Supporters of the tunnel project argue that shutting down Line 5 could cause a regional energy emergency and economic disaster. Interestingly, Enbridge’s own expert testified in court that even in an emergency shutdown scenario, the cost of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel would increase by just one half of one cent per gallon in Wisconsin and Michigan. Plus, alternatives to Line 5 with less risk exist. According to studies, existing infrastructure and transportation methods (rail, truck, and other pipelines) could safely and effectively replace Line 5’s capacity without causing energy shortages or price spikes.
Enbridge’s history with Tribal Nations is also disheartening. In June 2023, a federal judge ruled that Line 5 is actively trespassing on the Bad River Band of the Chippewa’s reservation, and when Enbridge appealed, 30 Great Lakes Tribal Nations united to voice their concerns about its continued operation.
This leads us to our critical question—if safer alternatives exist, alternatives that eliminate the risk of a devastating oil spill in the heart of the Great Lakes and the deterioration of the sovereign rights of tribes, why would we proceed with this risky tunnel project?
Patagonia operates four retail stores in the Great Lakes and supports numerous outdoor gear shops and environmental organizations across the region. Our primary supporters are a grassroots community of surfers, paddlers, and fishers who engage in sport in and around the water. According to the Great Lakes Commission, the lakes directly generate over 1.5 million jobs and $60 billion in wages annually. Additionally, recreation in the Great Lakes generates $52 billion annually. Put simply, a rupture of the Line 5 pipeline would have a devastating impact on the Great Lakes economy and our community’s ability to recreate.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) opened a public comment period as part of their review of the proposed Line 5 tunnel project. Since the Great Lakes are held in public trust, people across the country (even internationally) can submit comments until the deadline on Aug. 29.
Consider this an invitation to any regional business or citizen to stand with us. Please consider submitting a comment to the Michigan EGLE, asking them to ensure a comprehensive permitting process that considers the environmental effects of the entire tunnel project, including the full construction and operation of the tunnel. Additionally, we call on EGLE to consider a full set of alternatives to the project, including the decommissioning of Line 5.
The Straits of Mackinac are not a corporate sacrifice zone; they are an international treasure. They deserve to be protected.
Jason Wilhite, is assistant manager for Patagonia Fulton Market and a Great Lakes Business Network Executive Committee Member.