The governor of Michigan is moving forward with a solution that could possibly fix part of the controversial oil pipeline that runs through the water between Lakes Huron and Michigan.
The plan is to construct a tunnel that will encase part of the line. State officials say, this will prevent possible damage to the lakes, should the aging line leak.
Activsits fear, the line, which is more than 60 years old, runs the risk of leaking causing extensive damage to the lakes and its watershed.
"We’ll be building a brand new tunnel and brand new lines that would go through that tunnel and all of removed. We want to decommissioned line five and that’s part of the agreement. the existing lines that are completely exposed in the water right now would be decommissioned," said Ari Adler, is the governor’s spokesperson.
State officials say Enbridge, the Canadian company that owns Line 5, is going to pay for the construction, the operation and the maintenance of the tunnel. The plan is estimated to cost more than 500 million dollars It will take about seven to ten years to complete.
Chris Kolb from the Michigan Environmental Council says that’s just too long.
"Although Enbridge claims that this tunnel could be completed in seven to ten years, in reality it could take much longer, and every day we are testing our luck,” Kolb said. “It is crucial that the state government and Enbridge tell the residents of Michigan how they plan to protect the Great Lakes from a catastrophic spill from Line 5 now and in the future."
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