MICHIGAN — A permit was issued to Enbridge Energy Partners from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to install 22 anchor support structures into the lake bed along Line 5 pipelines.

“There is a stable basin on the pipeline to meet any discrepancies from the 75 span (Enbridge is) supposed to meet per the lease agreements. They want to be proactive to have them available if they discover areas that exceed that 75 foot span they can go put in,” DEQ environmental quality analyst Scott Rasmusson said.

He said the request for the permit was made in June 2017. In a statement released from the DEQ, project activities will include “The installation of a helical anchoring system with saddle mounts around the pipeline in each of the proposed locations. The 22 anchors will be augured directly into the lake bed using 10-inch diameter screws (total of 44 screws). The total lake bottom impact will be approximately nine cubic yards. Permit conditions require verification of anchor placement and documentation of pipeline coating conditions, and addressing damaged coating where discovered.”

The anchors will be placed between Point LaBarbe in the Upper Peninsula and McGulpin Point in the Lower Peninsula.

Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Policy Director Jennifer McKay said to date it has put in 148 anchors, where it digs down about 10 feet down and mount the pipeline.

She said there are bigger concerns Enbridge needs to be careful of when it comes to installation.

“The greater concern is if the installation is going to cause the coating to become dislodged. That’s a greater concern because the coating prevents corrosion. Now Enbridge has to take pictures of the pipeline, use divers or ROVs to look for damage, because we know historically it’s been caused by the anchors,” she said.

Jordan Spence can be reached via email at jspence@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5687.