LANSING — Environmental groups opposing the Line 5 tunnel project are raising concerns about impacts on the local environment and quality of life during construction.
The groups say they remain worried about potential side effects of the project if approved, including disturbances from the six years of construction that the US Army Corps of Engineers estimates would take place.
“That would be up to six years and potentially more of constant construction noise, ongoing pollution from the traffic, from the trucking,” said Zoe Zeerip, coordinator of the Groundwork Center’s Great Lakes Business Network.
The Army Corps’ draft environmental impact statement says that the project would cause “direct, short-term, detrimental impacts” to water and land habitats, the nearby soundscape and to local aesthetics.
The Army Corps defines ‘detrimental’ as any negative change in conditions compared to the alternative of taking no action.
Michigan environmental groups say they’re concerned about the impact on local communities and tourist destinations, including the east portion of Hiawatha National Forest and Castle Rock, about five miles north of St. Ignace.
The report says that these locations may experience direct and detrimental impacts from construction noise and light pollution.
“All the equipment that they’re bringing in that would have significant lighting infrastructure, upwards of 400 foot tall cranes — and that would then threaten the stargazing that the area is so well known for,” Zeerip said.
Enbridge’s pumping station on the south side of the straits is located just next to the Headlands International Dark Sky Park, likely disrupting its operations for months, if not years.
During that time, the Army Corps says construction trucks would make around 280 round trips over the Mackinac Bridge per day, representing a 4-5% increase in bridge traffic compared to 2024 figures.
Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said in a statement that the company would take an “environmentally respectful” approach with the project if it wins approval.
“Most environmental disturbances will be short term and during construction, with restoration of natural features occurring post-construction,” Duffy said. “The Great Lakes Tunnel presents no ongoing adverse environmental impacts.”
Public comments for state environmental permits will run through Friday, Aug. 29, though most of these concerns fall outside the scope of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
Their review does include the impact on a small portion of the Great Lakes bottomlands, as well as an acre and a half of wetlands that the Army Corps says would be permanently impacted.