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MEDIA CONTACT:
Joy Yearout
517-373-8060
yearoutj@michigan.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JULY 24, 2014

Protecting the Great Lakes
Schuette & Wyant Put Enbridge on
Notice:
Reinforce Pipeline Beneath Straits of
Mackinac
Second Letter to Enbridge Requires Compliance with
Terms of
State Pipeline Easement to Ensure Stability of
Enbridge Pipeline


LANSING Attorney General Bill Schuette and Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) Director Dan Wyant today sent a formal
notice to Enbridge addressing the requirement to install additional anchors
for two oil pipelines laid in the Mackinac Straits more than sixty years
ago.



The States formal notice to Enbridge Energy and Enbridge Pipelines,
L.L.C. follows Schuette and Wyants formal request for information from
the companies in April, and is in addition to the recent formation of the
Michigan Petroleum Task Force, co-chaired by Schuette and Wyant to
examine petroleum pipeline issues more closely.

The notice sent by Wyant and Schuette today responds to Enbridges
acknowledgement that it is currently not in compliance with their
agreement with the State of Michigan, which limits the maximum span or
length of unsupported pipe in Enbridges pipelines in the Mackinac Straits.
We have a responsibility to mitigate any risk of serious harm to our Great
Lakes, said Schuette. If we see evidence that something isnt quite right
with the infrastructure that lies beneath them, were going to address it
with every tool available. We will insist that Enbridge fully comply with the
conditions of the Straits Pipeline Easement to protect our precious
environmental and economic resources and limit the risk of disaster
threatening our waters.

The Great Lakes are our greatest natural resource assets, and we must
do all we can to protect them, Wyant said. Installing additional pipeline
supports means additional protection, and we look forward to Enbridge
completing this work quickly.

The letter signed by Schuette and Wyant on behalf of the State addresses
the easement agreement with the State of Michigan that allowed the
construction and operation of the Enbridge Straits Pipelines in 1953. The
agreement requires pipeline supports at least every 75 feet to ensure the
stability of the pipelines running along the lake bed.
Enbridge recently acknowledged in their June response to an information
request from Schuette and Wyant that some portions of the pipelines do
not meet that requirement. The company noted it intends to install
additional supports this year so that they would be spaced an average of
50 feet apart.

Ongoing Conversation with Enbridge to Protect the Great Lakes
On April 29, 2014, Schuette and Wyant made a formal request for detailed
information from Enbridge Inc. and Enbridge Pipelines Inc. regarding two
Enbridge oil pipelines laid in the Straits of Mackinac more than 60 years
ago.



The letter signed by Schuette and Wyant asked for detailed information
about the Enbridge pipelines within 60 days, including:

Pipeline Life Expectancy:

Details on the construction, modification, and estimated life expectancy of
the pipelines, as well as any anticipated replacement plans.

Pipeline Use:

Existing and potential uses for the pipelines in the future.

Preventive Maintenance and Leak Prevention:

Pipeline inspection processes and mechanisms for leak prevention,
detection and control.

Spill Response Plans:

Company response plans in the event of a leak or spill.
On June 27, 2014, Enbridge responded to the States request for
information and that response is still under review.
Todays formal request for action on the spacing of pipeline anchors is an
important first step in ensuring the Great Lakes are protected from a
potentially catastrophic spill in the event of a pipeline failure.

Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force

Last month, Wyant and Schuette announced they will co-chair a multi-
agency government task force to take a close look at pipelines
transporting petroleum products around the state.
Formal oversight for interstate gas and oil pipelines comes from the
federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. But the
vast network of lines transporting petroleum products over and under
Michigan has the potential to impact Michigans environment and
communities.

The Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force includes the Michigan
Attorney Generals office as well as DEQ, the Michigan Public Service
Commission, Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Office of the
Great Lakes, Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan State
Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division.
Additional topics the group will address include:
The states emergency management preparedness for spills;
Coordination of permitting issues for pipeline upgrades and replacement;
and,
The creation of a state website to serve as an information clearinghouse
for residents who have questions or concerns about pipelines.

[Attachment: July 24, 2014 Notice to Enbridge Inc.]

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07.24.14 Schuette and Wyant Put Enbridge on Notice - Reinforce Pipeline Beneath Straits of Mackinac.pdf
07.24.14 State of Michigan Notice - Enbridge.pdf


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