State Representative Sue Allor in favor of shutting down Line 5 pipeline
The Line 5 pipeline sits at an elevated position beneath the Straights of Mackinac.
Alpena — State Representative of the 106th District Sue Allor is calling for the complete shutdown of the Line 5 pipeline below the Straights of Mackinac.
Allor has been looking at numerous studies, talking with constituents, and speaking with experts to come to a decision. Michigan Tech’s Guy Meadows and 41 other researchers just released an independent impact study analysis that helped ensure Allor’s endorsement of shutting down Line 5.
“If you’re living in Michigan, you’re reaping the benefit of our Great Lakes and it just shocked me that not everybody knows about the potential disaster waiting to happen,” said Allor.
The major concern is in the transformation of the structure since it’s creation in the 1950s. The pipeline was designed to be a bottom land pipeline that lies on the floor of the lake. Now, the pipeline is suspended by supports, raising the risk for a spill due to it’s elevated properties.
The pipeline has 150 supports and 48 more have been proposed by Enbridge. If these additional supports are put into play, 2.8 of the 4.2 miles of pipeline in the Straits would be supported above the bottomlands.
The latest study from the team of more than forty researchers shows that worst-case scenario would affect over 400 miles of shoreline and cost a billion dollars to clean up.
Next steps for the State Representative will be education of the potential threat to the Great Lakes. Allor hopes to speak with constituents and other leaders around the state to raise awareness for the issue facing Northern Michiganders.
“Just educating and getting the word out there because the legislature does not have the authority to shut it down,” said Allor. ” I talked with someone yesterday who had never even heard of Line 5.”
