The Canadian Enbridge Inc. pipeline that crosses Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and lays at the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac just west of the Mackinac Bridge is 69 years old and, now, Enbridge wants to build a tunnel under the Straits to replace this aging pipeline.

One thing people should know is that Line 5 is a Canadian pipeline shipping oil from Canada, crossing the state of Michigan on its way to Sarnia, Canada refineries.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revoked Enbridge’s easement and ordered the line shut down, but Enbridge has defied her orders and it is now in the courts for some type of resolution.

Studies have been done saying gas and diesel prices could increase about 10% percent if Line 5 were shut down, but, now, in court documents, a consultant for Enbridge admits that closing down the pipeline would affect gas prices by only one half of 1 cent, which is basically nothing.

Replacing Line 5 with a tunnel built under the Straits might reduce the risk of a tragic oil spill in the Great Lakes, but it won’t eliminate the risk, so the basic question is, what — if any — risk is acceptable?

I say the answer is “none”. The Great Lakes contain 20% of the entire world’s fresh water, and thousands of Michiganders rely on the Great Lakes for jobs, recreation, shipping, and fishing. Studies have also been done by the University of Michigan showing that one of the worst places in America to build an oil pipeline would be in the Straits. The currents are strong enough that a significant oil spill could not be cleaned up, let alone if that spill occurred in winter under several feet of ice.

While there are alternatives to Line 5, such as building pipelines around the lakes, or increasing capacity of existing pipelines by using existing easements, or moving refineries closer to the oil sources in Canada are viable options, Enbridge insists the risk to the Great Lakes is acceptable.

No, it is not, especially when Enridge’s Line 5 has already had 33 oil spills releasing over a million gallons into the environment.

No risk is acceptable considering Enbridge’s poor safety records.

One only has to remember the largest inland oil spill in the history of the United States was Enbridge Line 6 in Marshall in 2010. It took over five years and $1 billion to try and get the Kalamazoo River cleaned up.

And, just this past week, the Michigan Public Service Commission voted 3-0 to ask Enbridge for more detailed information regarding their tunnel idea, specifically about explosions and fires beneath the Straits. The commissioners’ order stated Enbridge didn’t supply enough data on tunnel engineering and hazards. nor did they include enough about their leak detection process and procedures about shutting the pipeline down in case of an emergency.

Folks, there is a reason Enbridge didn’t supply all that information. It would reveal what we already know, which is that an oil pipeline through the Straits — which join Lake Michigan and Lake Huron — was a bad idea decades ago and still is today.

So, now that it has come out that closing Line 5 would have little to no impact on gas prices, why should Michiganders assume all the risk just so Enbridge can pad the pockets of their stockholders while they ship oil from Canada to Canada?

The Great Lakes can’t be moved. Pipelines can.

The Great Lakes can’t be replaced. Pipelines can be rerouted.

The Great Lakes are one of the most vital and precious natural wonders of America, and putting them at risk when that risk can be avoided is a horrible idea, and the time has come to shut Line 5 down and encourage Enbridge to seek alternative routes.

As always, I am interested in what you think. Let me know at gregawtry@awtry.com.

Greg Awtry is the former publisher of the Scottsbluff (Neb.) Star-Herald and Nebraska’s York News-Times. He is now retired and living in Hubbard Lake. Greg can be contacted at gregawtry@awtry.com.