People have until December 18th to weigh in on a plan to build a new section of pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. The pipeline would be put in a tunnel under the bedrock of the Straits and carry crude oil and natural gas liquids.
Earlier this week, Governor Rick Snyder signed a bill to create an authority that would oversee the construction and use of the tunnel by Enbridge Energy. Now all the pieces are in place to potentially finalize the deal with Enbridge.
Ed Golder is with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Documents that lay out the agreement between Enbridge and the state are posted online at mipetroleumpipeline.com.
“These are documents that are going to be critical to the discussion about a proposed tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac," says Golder. "And it’s important for the public to get a look at those documents before they become finalized and have an opportunity to make any substantive comments they may have.”
Golder says the reason for the abbreviated timeline is the new authority is scheduled to meet for the first time on December 19th. And they want to consider the comments.
Editor's note: Enbridge Energy is a financial sponsor of Michigan Radio.
