On this day exactly 10 years ago, something happened that shifted the entire world of environmental advocacy in Michigan.
Let me tell you about it.
Let me tell you about it.
At approximately 5:58pm on 7/25/10, a long segment of Enbridge’s Line 6B pipeline ruptured near Marshall, MI. Nearly 1 million gallons of Canadian crude oil spilled into a tributary of the Kalamazoo River.
The incident remains the 3rd-largest inland oil spill in U.S. history.
The incident remains the 3rd-largest inland oil spill in U.S. history.
For many Michiganders in 2010, Line 6B was a harsh awakening. Few people had even known that major oil pipelines ran through the state, let alone those carrying Canadian oil back into Canada.
Residents and enviros began to pay attention.
Residents and enviros began to pay attention.
That focus quickly turned to Enbridge’s Line 5, the 67-year-old dual pipeline that carries oil under the Straits of Mackinac.
Studies, reports and computer models showing worst-case oil spill scenarios in the Great Lakes were released. “Shut down Line 5” became a rallying call.
Studies, reports and computer models showing worst-case oil spill scenarios in the Great Lakes were released. “Shut down Line 5” became a rallying call.
Increased scrutiny was put on Enbridge, the Canadian oil company that even business-oriented Gov. Rick Snyder expressed concerns about.
Now, as I said earlier, the Marshall spill is the 3rd-largest inland oil spill in U.S. history.
Now, as I said earlier, the Marshall spill is the 3rd-largest inland oil spill in U.S. history.
The 1st and 2nd largest spills also came from Enbridge. Line 3 spilled 1.3M gals near Argyle, MN in 1973; the same pipeline spilled 1.7M gals near Grand Rapids, MN in 1991.
In Minnesota, there is just as much aggressive activism to shut down Line 3 and prevent its replacement.
In Minnesota, there is just as much aggressive activism to shut down Line 3 and prevent its replacement.
All this to say that 10 years ago today was an incredibly important day in Michigan environmental history. The Line 6B catastrophe was the flashpoint that put Enbridge’s operations in Michigan into public awareness, and it should be remembered as such when we think about Line 5.
