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Tell the Army Corps of Engineers: No Line 5 Tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac!
Enbridge wants to put its Line 5 oil pipeline, which currently lies on the floor of the Straits of Mackinac, into a tunnel that would be drilled beneath the lake floor. Two tunnel experts have described the many dangers posed and the damages that would certainly result, but Enbridge doesn’t care. To read about their concerns, go to the Red Flags page at Oil & Water Don’t Mix.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the federal agency charged with protecting the navigable waters of the US, is taking action and we need to support and pressure them to do the right thing. They have announced that they will create an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), so that the deciders will be well informed about the consequences of granting permits. This is definitely the result of years of agitation by people in Michigan, Wisconsin, and other states. (Pat yourself on the back if you have raised your voice - many projects never get an EIS!)
The first step in the process is for the USACE to ask the public for “scoping comments” to guide their investigation. The idea is to suggest what the “scope” of their probing should be. They will accept comments through Oct. 14, 2022. After that, they will consider the comments, and then do their research and publish a draft EIS. The public will have a chance to comment on the draft, and then the agency will consider those comments, and come out with their final EIS.
Thank you for stepping forward to make a comment! It’s really not hard, and it’s a great way to show the USACE that people do not want an oil pipeline under our Great Lakes. We’ve created a sample comment that you can use, but we hope that you will add a few words or sentences at the beginning, with a danger or impact that you are most concerned about. We’ll make sure that they are delivered before the deadline.
What kind of comments are most effective with the Army Corps?
Click here to read their “Tips For Submitting Effective Scoping Comments.”
What if I have a lot to say?
If you add your own comments in the box to the right, and then you see a message that you have exceeded the character limit, just cut out some of the sample comment, and you will have more space for yours. You can even cut out the entire sample comment, and fill the box to the limit with your comment. If your comment is greater than the limit, you can click here and use the Army Corps online form, which accepts a maximum of 1000 words.
If your comment is greater than 1000 words, you can make a document out of it and attach it when you fill in their form. Or you could print it and send it via the US Postal Service to: Line 5 Tunnel EIS, 16501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 10178, Gaithersburg, MD 20898. There is no maximum length for mailed comments.
Thank you for taking action to protect our drinking water, our climate, and our Earth!
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The comment period for this document is now closed. But, you can still help!
Edit this message to tell users that can't take action because comments are closed how to contribute. For example, consider adding a link to a petition or donation page that you have created, or add social sharing options so that these supporters can help get the word out on social media.