Report on the Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project and Sustainable Development Goal Implications

1.0 Introduction and Regulatory Context

A significant environmental and regulatory debate is underway concerning Enbridge’s proposal to construct a tunnel for its Line 5 pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is advocating for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to mandate a comprehensive regulatory review under the Great Lakes Submerged Lands Act. This dispute highlights a critical intersection of infrastructure development with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning environmental protection, clean water, and institutional accountability.

The core of the conflict lies in differing interpretations of regulatory necessity. While Enbridge proceeds under the assumption that a Submerged Lands Act permit is not required for the tunnel, the NWF insists it is a vital step for ensuring responsible governance and environmental stewardship, aligning with the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which calls for effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

2.0 Environmental Risks and Alignment with SDGs 6, 14, and 15

The proposed project poses substantial risks to the Great Lakes ecosystem, directly challenging the objectives of multiple SDGs. The NWF has articulated grave concerns regarding the potential for irreversible environmental damage.

2.1 Threats to Water and Ecosystems

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The Great Lakes represent one of the world’s most significant freshwater resources. A potential oil spill from a compromised pipeline or a tunnel collapse would directly threaten the water quality for millions, undermining Target 6.3 to reduce pollution and Target 6.6 to protect water-related ecosystems.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: An oil spill in the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, could cause catastrophic damage to aquatic life and habitats. This risk is in direct opposition to Target 14.1, which aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine and coastal pollution.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The environmental impact would extend to surrounding wetlands and shorelines. A spill could contaminate vast coastal areas, jeopardizing terrestrial wildlife and ecosystems, thereby conflicting with Target 15.1 on the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and Target 15.5 on reducing the degradation of natural habitats.

2.2 Geotechnical and Structural Integrity Concerns

The NWF cites expert analysis indicating that the tunnel’s proposed path through unstable rock formations presents a significant risk. The potential consequences include:

1. Catastrophic collapse of the tunnel structure.
2. Resultant collapse of the lakebed itself.
3. Potential damage to the existing Line 5 pipeline during construction.
4. Potential structural impact on the nearby Mackinac Bridge.

The historical precedent of the 2010 Enbridge Line 6b rupture, which released over 840,000 gallons of oil into the Kalamazoo River, serves as a stark reminder of the potential scale of such an environmental disaster.

3.0 Cultural Heritage and Community Impact

3.1 Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage (SDG 11)

The project area contains significant cultural sites that Indigenous nations are actively working to protect. The potential for damage or disruption to these sites from the tunnel construction directly implicates SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), specifically Target 11.4, which calls for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The NWF has emphasized that a thorough review is necessary to ensure these invaluable cultural assets are not compromised.

4.0 Stakeholder Positions and Public Participation

4.1 National Wildlife Federation (NWF)

The NWF advocates for a mandatory Great Lakes Submerged Lands Act review to fully assess and mitigate the profound risks to the environment, public infrastructure, and cultural sites. This position emphasizes a precautionary approach consistent with sustainable development principles.

4.2 Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)

EGLE has stated its top priority is the protection of the Straits of Mackinac and surrounding wetlands. The agency notes that the Submerged Lands Act is primarily applied to projects on the lake bottomlands and that any permit requires assurance of minimal impact. EGLE is currently facilitating public engagement through virtual meetings and a comment period, a process that aligns with the participatory decision-making encouraged by SDG 16.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article’s central theme is the protection of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Huron) from potential contamination by an oil pipeline. The entire debate revolves around preventing an oil spill that would severely impact a major freshwater source, which is a core concern of SDG 6.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article mentions the need to protect “significant cultural sites in that area that the Indigenous nations are working hard to protect.” This directly relates to safeguarding cultural heritage, a key aspect of SDG 11.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The protection of the Great Lakes ecosystem is paramount. The article highlights “grave risks to the Great Lakes and the people and wildlife who rely on them” and the potential for a spill to “contaminate Michigan shorelines on both the Lake Michigan and Lake Huron coasts,” which would devastate aquatic life.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article notes that a top priority is “protecting the Straits of Mackinac and surrounding wetlands from adverse environmental impacts.” This concern for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, including wetlands and shorelines, aligns with SDG 15.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article describes a legal and regulatory process involving the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), a state agency (EGLE), and a corporation (Enbridge). The NWF is “urging EGLE to really force Enbridge’s hand” to undergo a specific regulatory review. The process also includes public participation through comments and hearings, which speaks to the goal of having effective, accountable, and transparent institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. The article’s focus is on preventing a potential oil spill from the Line 5 pipeline, which would be a massive release of hazardous material into the Great Lakes.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. This is directly referenced by the concern that the project could impact “significant cultural sites in that area that the Indigenous nations are working hard to protect.”

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds. The effort to prevent a catastrophic oil spill from Line 5 is a direct action towards preventing pollution in a major aquatic ecosystem. The article recalls a past spill of “more than 840,000 gallons of oil” as the disaster to be avoided.
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. The article highlights the risk of “catastrophic collapse… of the lakebed itself” and the need to protect the area from “adverse environmental impacts.”

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article explicitly mentions the goal of “protecting the Straits of Mackinac and surrounding wetlands.”
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats. The concern about a “catastrophic collapse” of the lakebed and the potential for widespread contamination that would harm “wildlife” aligns with this target of preventing habitat degradation.

5. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article states that “EGLE is taking comments regarding the permits and has scheduled virtual meetings for a question-and-answer session and a formal public hearing,” which is a direct example of this target in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.3 & 14.1:

  The article implies an indicator by referencing the past Line 6b rupture, which resulted in “more than 840,000 gallons of oil spilling.” Therefore, a key indicator for success would be the volume of hazardous materials (oil) spilled into the water body, with the goal being zero.

• Indicator for Target 11.4:

  The mention of “significant cultural sites” implies that an indicator would be the degree of preservation and absence of damage to identified Indigenous cultural heritage sites in the project area.

• Indicator for Target 14.2 & 15.5:

  The article discusses risks of “catastrophic collapse” and “adverse environmental impacts.” An implied indicator is the assessment of environmental and geological stability of the project area, specifically the lakebed and surrounding wetlands. Progress is measured by ensuring the project will have “no more than a minimal impact.”

• Indicator for Target 16.7:

  The article explicitly mentions that the state is “taking comments” and has “scheduled virtual meetings for a… formal public hearing.” A direct indicator is the implementation of public consultation and participation mechanisms in the environmental permitting process.

4. SDGs, Targets and Indicators Analysis

Source: michiganpublic.org