95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State wants commitment that Enbridge will pay for any damages related to Line 5

Underwater photo of Line 5
SCREEN SHOT OF A BALLARD MARINE INSPECTION VIDEO / ENBRIDGE ENERGY

  State officials are asking Enbridge Energy to enter into a written agreement saying the company will cover any potential losses and damage related to Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac. 

 

 

The Department of Natural Resources requested the agreement after an independent analysis last year identified the lack of one as a weakness in the current understanding between the state and Enbridge.? 

 

Ed Golder is a Public Information Officer for the DNR.? 

 

“Our concern is that those agreements are with a subsidiary of the larger parent corporation and we want to make certain that that larger parent corporation is financially liable for any potential catastrophic events that may occur in the Straits.” 

 

Golder says the study found the subsidiary does not have sufficient resources to cover the costs of a spill. 

 

In a written statement, Enbridge says it pledges to take full responsibility for the clean-up of any incident in Michigan or anywhere along its pipeline system. The company says it has the ability to cover all costs in the - quote - “unlikely event of an incident in the Straits”.?