Dear District Engineer:

I stand with Pipeliners Local 798 in support of Enbridge Energy's Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project, especially in light of the Army Corps' proposal to incorporate horizontal directional drilling on project construction.

Enbridge's acceptance of this drilling proposal – which was announced suddenly before permit review was scheduled to wrap up and alters plans that have been under review for years – is the latest example of its commitment to working with regulators to develop this infrastructure in the safest and most responsible manner. Construction looks to be delayed further now on the already long-delayed project, but our members respect the environmental reasons for the proposal, as it would eliminate the full-scale excavation needed for a tunnel.

The permitting process for Line 5 has allowed extensive opportunity for review and comment, through which Enbridge continues to seek the highest level of safety and environmental responsibility. This is one of several reasons why I believe the Line 5 Straits Tunnel Project deserves approval from the Army Corps and other decision makers, including:

• Enbridge continues to maintain a proactive inspection program to monitor the fitness of Line 5, including evaluating the pipe’s interior inch by inch every five years using in-line inspection tools that provide detail on par with MRIs in the medical industry;
• All products that enter the pipeline are still to be inspected and treated to prevent corrosion, and the system is operated at a low pressure to minimize stress on the pipe – all in an effort to protect the pipeline and the Straits;
• Enbridge has paid tens of millions of dollars in property taxes across the state for its energy infrastructure projects. The state invests this revenue into schools, roads and bridges and other important public services;
• This project will create good jobs for the local workforce, many of whom include Local 798 members who depend on these jobs for their livelihood.

Prior to the Army Corps update in November, the permitting process for Line 5 already ensured more than adequate opportunity for review and comment, through which Enbridge has demonstrated a clear plan with the project to help ensure an uninterrupted supply of reliable, affordable energy to Michigan and the region. This is why I ask the Army Corps to efficiently complete this review and approve necessary permits without any delay beyond what was already imposed by the horizontal drilling proposal.

Signed,

[Names Below]

**By signing the above comment, you are authorizing Local 798 to submit the above to state and federal regulators and other decision makers to support Line 5. This summer, we submitted a comment with nearly 2,800 signatures to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the draft Environmental Impact Statement comment period ended for this project. Any signatures collected on that comment will be included in this follow-up submission to the Army Corps during this comment period concluding on December 5.**