ST. IGNACE, Mich. (WLUC) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District published the long-awaited Line 5 Tunnel Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Friday morning.

The DEIS is published on the Line 5 Tunnel Project website at: https://www.line5tunneleis.com/draft-eis/.

The Detroit District is conducting a 30-day public comment period on the DEIS from May 30 to June 30, 2025. The public and concerned parties are welcome to provide comments using the following methods:

• The Line 5 Tunnel EIS website at https://www.line5tunneleis.com/comment-here-new/.
• Virtual public meetings:
  • Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 1-4 p.m., link
  • Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 5-8 p.m., link
• Written comments (post marked by June 30, 2025) mailed to:
  • Line 5 Tunnel EIS
  • 6501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 10178
  • Gaithersburg, MD 20898

“Public participation is an important part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to ensure a thorough environmental analysis, and an effective, consistent and well-informed decision,” Detroit District Commander Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff said.

All submitted comments are included in the Detroit District’s administrative record, analyzed, and considered in the preparation of the Final EIS and other parts of the District’s review, as applicable.

“Even when operating under emergency procedures, the Detroit District remains committed to following the NEPA process,” said Lt. Col. Wallace Bandeff.

The Line 5 Tunnel Project is a proposal by Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (Enbridge) to construct a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Michigan. The tunnel would house a replacement segment of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which transports crude oil and natural gas liquids. The Detroit District is reviewing Enbridge’s permit application (File LRE-2010-00463-56-A19) pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a Department of the Army permit.

The EIS assesses the potential impacts of the Line 5 Tunnel Project and project alternatives (including the No Action alternative, an alternative that would install a protective gravel/rock cover over the existing Dual Pipelines in the Straits, and multiple pipeline decommissioning sub-alternatives, if the proposed tunnel were to be permitted) to land use and recreation; aesthetics; water resources; biological resources; cultural resources; geology; soils; transportation and navigation; air quality; noise and vibration; socioeconomics; and reliability and safety.

In addition to its consideration of cultural resources in the EIS, the Corps of Engineers is separately evaluating impacts to historic properties, as well as impact avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures, in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

The Corps of Engineers is also conducting a treaty rights analysis in consultation with federally recognized Tribes to determine if the proposed Line 5 Tunnel Project would impinge upon or abrogate treaty rights. Findings of the Section 106 process and treaty rights analysis will be presented in the Record of Decision following release of the Final EIS.

The Record of Decision date is anticipated in fall 2025.

“The Detroit District continues to prepare the Final EIS and comply with all applicable legal and policy requirements, including its federal trust responsibility to Tribal Nations, the National Historic Preservation Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act,” Lt. Col. Bandeff said. “These processes will inform the District’s permit decision.”

The environmental consequences key points section in the DEIS says, “Long-term detrimental effects include vegetation removal and ground disturbance.” It goes on to say, “Most other environmental consequences would be short-term with the effects resolving once construction is completed.”

In a statement, Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy welcomed public comment over the next 30 days:

“The release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is a significant milestone in the development of the Great Lakes Tunnel. It is the result of more than five years of rigorous and comprehensive permit review and stakeholder engagement including input from Tribes and is a critical step forward in planning a project that will modernize energy infrastructure, protect the Great Lakes, and ensure long-term energy reliability for Michigan and the broader region.

“Enbridge submitted project permit applications for the Great Lakes Tunnel project to state and federal regulators in April 2020.

“The DEIS reflects a rigorous, multi-year review process led by the USACE and its third-party specialists. We appreciate the extensive technical work that went into this document and the opportunity to contribute detailed responses to numerous data and information requests—demonstrating our commitment to transparency and environmental, social and cultural responsibility.

“Our goal is to have the smallest possible environmental footprint. The tunnel design already reflects that intent, and we will use the USACE’s findings from the DEIS to further refine the project.

“We support and welcome the public comment process now underway. Public and stakeholder input is essential to the integrity of this process, and we look forward to hearing feedback, answering questions, and continuing to engage transparently with all interested parties.”

TV6 has also requested comment from Oil & Water Don’t Mix, an organization that opposes the pipeline in the Straits.

This story will be updated.

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