MPSC to hold public hearing Aug. 24 on Enbridge's request for siting authority to replace, relocate Line 5 in tunnel under Straits of Mackinac

Michigan Public Service Commissioners are, from left, Daniel C. Scripps, Sally A. Talberg, and Tremaine L. Phillips. (File photo courtesy Michigan Public Service Commission)

LANSING -- The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will hold an electronic public hearing on Aug. 24 to take input on Enbridge Energy LP’s request for siting authority of its plans to relocate a segment of the Line 5 pipeline to a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

The hearing will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, and is open to the public. The meeting will take place virtually with public participation by telephone, consistent with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive order 2020-154 permitting electronic meetings to preserve the public’s health and safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Event Details:

    What: Public hearing to receive comments
    When: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. Aug. 24, 2020
    Where: Virtually, using Microsoft Teams
    Who: Michigan Public Service Commission members and MPSC Staff
    Access Information: Participate online by accessing the Microsoft Teams hearing link (https://bit.ly/2P7RVJG) or by calling 248-509-0316 and entering 998 713 012, followed by # when prompted.
Those who wish to comment are strongly encouraged to pre-register by 3 p.m. (Eastern time) on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, by using the registration form at www.surveymonkey.com/r/MPSCLine5PublicHearing or by calling 800-292-9555. 

Comments also can be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Michigan Public Service Commission, 7109 W. Saginaw Hwy., Lansing MI 48917, or emailed to mpscedockets@michigan.gov. Please include the case number (U-20763) in your correspondence.

Members of the public who are speech or hearing impaired may participate by calling 711 and using the Michigan Relay service. More information about this service may be found here. Those who need any additional accommodations may contact the Commission’s Executive Secretary at 517-284-8090.

For more information about this public hearing, click here.

A transcript of the public hearing will be filed in the docket for Case No. U-20763. This hearing may also be recorded, and the recording may be posted at www.youtube.com/MichiganPublicServiceCommission

For more information about Enbridge Energy’s Act 16 application and how to participate, go to www.michigan.gov/mpscline5.

For information about the MPSC, visit www.Michigan.gov/MPSC, sign up for one of its listservs, or follow the Commission on Twitter.

Editor's Note: For background on the reason for this public hearing see "MPSC denies Enbridge Energy's request for relief on Line 5 pipeline project, sets Aug. 24 full hearing process for proposal."

See also our May 8, 2020, article: "Michigan Public Service Commission seeks public comment on Enbridge Line 5 - tunnel request by May 13." 

You can also submit a comment to the MPSC opposing Enbridge's tunnel request via Oil and Water Don't Mix.