Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Line 5 Tunnel Project, Mackinac and Emmet Counties, Michigan, 50074-50076 [2022-17444]
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50074
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 156 / Monday, August 15, 2022 / Notices
You may submit comments,
identified by docket number and title,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Department of Defense, Office of
the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and
Transparency, Regulatory Directorate,
4800 Mark Center Drive, Attn: Mailbox
24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350–
1700.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name, docket
number and title for this Federal
Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions
from members of the public is to make
these submissions available for public
viewing on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
ADDRESSES:
To
request more information on this
proposed information collection or to
obtain a copy of the proposal and
associated collection instruments,
please write to Defense Health Agency,
7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA
22042, Terry McDavid, 703–681–3645.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title; Associated Form; and OMB
Number: MHS GENESIS Patient
Registration Module and Patient Portal;
OMB Control Number 0720–0064.
Needs and Uses: The information
collection requirement is necessary to
provide and document medical care;
determine eligibility for benefits and
entitlements; adjudicate claims;
determine whether a third party is
responsible for the cost of Military
Health System provided healthcare and
recover that cost; and evaluate fitness
for duty and medical concerns which
may have resulted from an occupational
or environmental hazard. Obtaining this
information is essential for the DoD to
provide medical care and recover costs.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Annual Burden Hours: 334,872.8.
Number of Respondents: 2,870,338.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 2,870,338.
Average Burden per Response: 7
minutes.
Frequency: As required.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: August 10, 2022.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2022–17475 Filed 8–12–22; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket ID: DoD–2022–HA–0100]
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs
(OASD(HA)), Department of Defense
(DoD).
ACTION: 60-Day information collection
notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Defense Health Agency announces a
proposed public information collection
and seeks public comment on the
provisions thereof. Comments are
invited on: whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed information collection; ways
to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and ways to minimize the
burden of the information collection on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
DATES: Consideration will be given to all
comments received by October 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number and title,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Department of Defense, Office of
the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense
for Privacy, Civil Liberties, and
Transparency, Regulatory Directorate,
4800 Mark Center Drive, Attn: Mailbox
24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria, VA 22350–
1700.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name, docket
number and title for this Federal
Register document. The general policy
for comments and other submissions
from members of the public is to make
these submissions available for public
viewing on the internet at https://
www.regulations.gov as they are
received without change, including any
personal identifiers or contact
information.
SUMMARY:
To
request more information on this
proposed information collection or to
obtain a copy of the proposal and
associated collection instruments,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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please write to Defense Health Agency,
7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA
22042, Terry McDavid, 703–681–3645.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title; Associated Form; and OMB
Number: Application for Champus
Provider Status: Corporate Services
Provider; DD Form 3030; OMB Control
Number 0720–0020.
Needs and Uses: This information
collection requirement is necessary to
ensure that the conditions are met for
authorization as a TRICARE/CHAMPUS
Corporate Service Provider.
Respondents are freestanding
corporations and foundations seeking
authorization under the TRICARE/
CHAMPUS program to provide
otherwise covered professional services
to eligible TRICARE/CHAMPUS
beneficiaries.
Affected Public: Businesses or other
for-profit.
Annual Burden Hours: 111.67.
Number of Respondents: 335.
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Annual Responses: 335.
Average Burden per Response: 20
minutes.
Frequency: As required.
Dated: August 10, 2022.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2022–17473 Filed 8–12–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of
Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Line 5 Tunnel Project, Mackinac
and Emmet Counties, Michigan
AGENCY:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
DoD.
ACTION:
Notice of intent.
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is
reviewing an application pursuant to
section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
of 1899 and section 404 of the Clean
Water Act for a Department of the Army
(DA) permit by Enbridge Energy,
Limited Partnership (Enbridge) (File
LRE–2010–00463–56–A19) to construct
a tunnel (the Line 5 Tunnel Project) that
would house a replacement segment of
Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline crossing the
Straits of Mackinac (Straits) in Lake
Michigan. The primary Federal
involvement associated with the
proposed action is the discharge of
dredged or fill material into waters of
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 156 / Monday, August 15, 2022 / Notices
the United States, and the construction
of structures and/or work that may
affect navigable waters. Federal
authorizations for the proposed project
would constitute a ‘‘major federal
action.’’ Based on the potential impacts
of the proposed project, the USACE
intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance
with the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) to render a final decision on
the permit application. The USACE is
also preparing an Ethnographic/
Traditional Cultural Landscape Study as
part of the EIS and its responsibilities
under section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
DATES: To ensure consideration, all
comments regarding the proposed EIS
scope should be received by the Detroit
District by October 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments
regarding the proposed EIS scope
should be addressed to: Line 5 Tunnel
EIS, 16501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box
10178, Gaithersburg, MD 20898.
Comments may also be submitted
electronically at: https://www.Line5
TunnelEIS.com. Individuals can also
subscribe to receive EIS updates at this
website.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information about this project, to be
included on the mailing list for future
updates and public meeting
announcements, or to receive a copy of
the Draft EIS when it is issued, visit
https://www.Line5TunnelEIS.com or
contact Ms. Katie Otanez at the USACE
at 313–226–5479.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
USACE, Detroit District, intends to
prepare an EIS for the proposed Line 5
Tunnel Project. As part of the DA permit
application review, the Detroit District
issued a Public Notice on May 15, 2020,
and held a Public Hearing on December
7, 2020. The purpose of the notice and
hearing was to seek comments and
information to better enable the Detroit
District to make a reasonable decision
on factors affecting the public interest.
All comments received to date will be
considered by the Detroit District during
EIS preparation.
The USACE’s decision will be to
issue, issue with modification, or deny
the DA permit for the proposed action.
The EIS will assess the potential social,
economic, cultural, and environmental
impacts of the proposed project and is
intended to be sufficient in scope to
address Federal, State, and local
requirements, and cultural,
environmental, socioeconomic, and
Tribal factors related to the proposed
action and permit review.
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1. Public Involvement: The USACE
invites all affected Federal, State, and
local agencies, Native American Tribes,
other interested parties, and the general
public to participate in the NEPA
process during development of the EIS.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to provide information to the
public, identify potentially significant
environmental issues for in-depth
analysis, serve as a mechanism to solicit
agency, Tribal, and public input on
alternatives and issues of concern, and
ensure full and open participation in
scoping for the Draft EIS. To ensure that
all of the issues related to this proposed
project are addressed, the USACE will
conduct public scoping meetings in
which agencies, organizations, Tribes,
and members of the general public are
invited to present comments or
suggestions with regard to the range of
actions, alternatives, and potential
impacts to be considered in the EIS. The
USACE invites comments on the
proposed scope and content of the EIS
from all interested parties.
The USACE will coordinate its review
under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (section 106)
with its NEPA process, pursuant to 36
CFR 800.8(a) and will use the EIS
scoping process to facilitate
consultation under Section 106. The
USACE invites all interested parties to
provide comments on identification of
and potential effects to historic
properties during the EIS scoping
period. In addition, individuals and
organizations with a demonstrated
interest in the project may request to
participate as a consulting party in the
USACE’s Section 106 review. The
USACE will determine whether to grant
such requests.
2. Scoping Meetings: The specific
dates, times, and locations of the
meetings will be published in press
releases and on the USACE’s project
website: www.Line5TunnelEIS.com.
3. Public Comment Availability:
Before including your address,
telephone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information
in your comment, you should be aware
that your entire comment—including
your personal identifying information—
may be made publicly available. While
you can ask in your comment that your
personal identifying information be
withheld from public review, the
USACE cannot guarantee that this will
occur.
4. Proposed Action: Enbridge’s Line 5,
in operation since 1953, transports light
crude oil, light synthetic crude oil, light
sweet crude oil, and natural gas liquids.
It supplies domestic and foreign
refineries throughout the region that
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50075
produce products such as gasoline,
propane, butanes, diesel, jet fuel,
asphalt, and other consumer products.
Line 5 extends for 645 miles between
Superior, Wisconsin and Sarnia,
Ontario. In Michigan, Line 5 crosses the
Straits, an approximately 4-mile-long
span of water that connects Lake
Michigan and Lake Huron. At the point
of and for the duration of that crossing,
Line 5 currently consists of two 20-inch
diameter pipes that rest on or are
anchored to the lakebed of the Straits
(referred to as the ‘‘Line 5 Dual
Pipelines’’ or ‘‘Dual Pipelines’’).
Enbridge is proposing to construct a
tunnel underneath the lakebed of the
Straits. This tunnel would house a new
30-inch single pipeline for light crude
oil, light synthetic crude oil, light sweet
crude oil, and natural gas liquids,
replacing the existing, dual pipelines
crossing the Straits. The tunnel would
be constructed and operated by
Enbridge and owned, upon the
completion of its construction, by the
Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority
(Authority). In addition to Line 5, the
tunnel would provide the potential to
accommodate other third-party utilities.
The tunnel is being pursued in
accordance with the ‘‘Tunnel
Agreement’’ that was executed by
Enbridge and the State of Michigan on
December 19, 2018. That Agreement
was entered in furtherance of Public Act
359, through which the State of
Michigan established the Authority and
delegated to it the right to acquire,
construct, maintain, improve, repair,
and manage a utility tunnel across the
Straits. The State of Michigan also
granted an easement for the proposed
tunnel in December 2018. The 1953
easement for the existing dual pipelines
crossing of the Straits was revoked on
November 13, 2020, by Michigan
Governor Whitmer and the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources. To
date, Enbridge continues to operate Line
5 through the Straits.
The proposed tunnel would cross
below the lakebed of the Straits,
connecting Point La Barbe in Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula to McGulpin Point in
Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, in
Mackinac and Emmet Counties,
respectively. The distance between
these two land points is approximately
3.6 miles and represents the shortest
distance between Michigan’s Upper and
Lower Peninsulas. The tunnel would
extend as near as practicable to
Enbridge’s existing Line 5 North Straits
Facility located on the north side of the
Straits to an opening point as near as
practicable to Enbridge’s existing Line 5
Mackinaw Station located on the south
side of the Straits.
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 156 / Monday, August 15, 2022 / Notices
Except for the entrance points on
either side of the Straits, the tunnel
would be constructed entirely within
the bedrock at depths between 30 feet
and 370 feet beneath the lakebed of the
Straits. Once complete, the proposed
tunnel’s inside diameter would be
approximately 21 feet. The tunnel
would be constructed using a tunnelboring machine. Pre-cast concrete
segmental lining would be installed as
the tunnel is constructed, and the space
outside the tunnel’s concrete lining
would be filled with low-permeability
grout. The tunnel would provide
secondary containment, which is
intended to minimize the potential for
leakage of fluids from Line 5 into the
lakebed or the Straits. Tunnel
construction activities would result in
removal of approximately 364,000 cubic
yards of material from underneath the
lakebed. The material would be
transported to offsite upland disposal
sites.
A shallow launch portal between 400
and 1,000 feet long, 40 to 60 feet wide,
and 50 to 80 feet deep would be
constructed in uplands within the
southern work area (McGulpin Point)
and would serve as the entry point for
the tunnel-boring machine. A circular
shaft 70 feet in diameter and 150 feet
deep would be constructed in uplands
at the tunnel-boring machine exit point
in the northern work area (Point La
Barbe). The construction area within the
proposed limits of disturbance would be
covered in gravel fill. Temporary
construction facilities in uplands would
include stormwater ponds, spoil storage
and management areas, a construction
water treatment plant, materials storage
and staging areas, office and parking
facilities, and a power substation and
generator. Permanent facilities
constructed in uplands would include
stormwater ponds, outfall structures,
access drives, and a ventilation building
at each end of the tunnel. Remaining
areas within the limits of disturbance
would be revegetated.
The proposed project would involve
placement of fill into a total of
approximately 0.13 acre of wetlands,
including 0.10 acre of permanent impact
and 0.03 acre of temporary impact. The
purposes of the fill include:
construction of two outfall structures
(0.02 acre wetland impact), widening
Boulevard Drive to the south and east of
the work area for construction
equipment access (0.08 acre), and
providing access to an upland materials
staging area (0.03 acre). After
completion of construction, the fill in
this 0.03-acre area would be removed,
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and the area would be seeded with
emergent wetland seed mix. Two water
intake structures for construction of the
tunnel would be installed offshore on
each side of the Straits. A discharge
pipe would be connected to the
southern intake, which would be used
intermittently to discharge treated
process water into the Straits. Each
intake structure would be marked with
a surface buoy. The offshore intake
structures and discharge pipe would be
removed upon completion of tunnel
construction.
A new 30-inch pipeline would be
installed within the tunnel and
connected to the existing portions of the
Line 5 pipeline. Upon completion,
Enbridge proposes to decommission the
existing submerged Line 5 dual
pipelines crossing the Straits by
purging, cleaning, and abandoning them
in place.
5. Location: The proposed project is
located within Mackinac County in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Emmet
County within Michigan’s Lower
Peninsula and includes subsurface
crossing of the Straits. The project can
be located on the U.S. Geological Survey
quadrangle map entitled McGulpin
Point, Michigan.
6. Purpose and Need: The purpose of
the project is to provide transportation
of light crude oil, light synthetic crude
oil, light sweet crude oil, and natural
gas liquids between Enbridge’s existing
North Straits Facility and Mackinaw
Station, and to approximately maintain
the existing capacity of the Line 5
pipeline while minimizing
environmental risks.
7. Alternatives: A number of project
alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS,
including the applicant’s proposed
alternative and a No Action alternative,
which may entail permit denial,
withdrawal, or alternatives that do not
require a DA permit. Additional
alternatives to be considered include
alternatives that would avoid, minimize,
and compensate for impacts to the
environment within the proposed
project footprint; alternatives that would
avoid, minimize, and compensate for
impacts to the environment outside the
footprint; alternatives using alternative
practices; and other reasonable
alternatives that will be developed
through the project scoping process, that
also meet the identified purpose and
need.
8. Scoping Process: The purpose of
the public scoping process is to identify
relevant issues that will influence the
scope of the environmental analysis and
EIS alternatives. General concerns in the
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following categories have been
identified to date: potential direct
effects to waters of the United States
including wetlands; water and sediment
quality; aquatic species and fisheries;
threatened and endangered species;
archaeological and cultural resources,
including the Straits as a Traditional
Cultural Landscape; Tribal treaty rights
and interests; recreation and
recreational resources; waste
management; aesthetics; noise; air
quality; climate change, including
greenhouse gas emissions and the social
cost of greenhouse gases; public health
and safety during construction and
operations; navigation; erosion; invasive
species; energy needs; environmental
justice; needs and welfare of the people;
and cumulative effects. All parties who
express interest will be given an
opportunity to participate in the
process.
9. Coordination: The proposed action
is being coordinated with Federal, State,
regional, and local agencies, and
Federally recognized Tribes. As part of
the NEPA process, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Coast Guard, Michigan State Historic
Preservation Office (SHPO), Bay Mills
Indian Community, Grand Traverse
Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians,
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians,
Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa
Indians, Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish
Band of Pottawatomi Indians,
Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the
Potawatomi, and Sault Ste. Marie Tribe
of Chippewa Indians have agreed to be
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of the EIS. USACE will consult with the
SHPO, Federally recognized Tribes, and
other consulting parties to fulfill its
responsibilities under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and
will consult with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to fulfill its
responsibilities under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act.
10. Availability of Draft EIS and
Public Comment: The Draft EIS is
estimated to be available for public
review and comment in the fall of 2023.
At that time a 60-day public review
period will be provided for individuals
and agencies to review and comment on
the Draft EIS.
Kimberly A. Peeples,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commander,
Great Lakes and Ohio River Division.
[FR Doc. 2022–17444 Filed 8–12–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50074-50076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17444]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Line 5 Tunnel Project, Mackinac and Emmet Counties,
Michigan
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Detroit District, is
reviewing an application pursuant to section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1899 and section 404 of the Clean Water Act for a
Department of the Army (DA) permit by Enbridge Energy, Limited
Partnership (Enbridge) (File LRE-2010-00463-56-A19) to construct a
tunnel (the Line 5 Tunnel Project) that would house a replacement
segment of Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline crossing the Straits of Mackinac
(Straits) in Lake Michigan. The primary Federal involvement associated
with the proposed action is the discharge of dredged or fill material
into waters of
[[Page 50075]]
the United States, and the construction of structures and/or work that
may affect navigable waters. Federal authorizations for the proposed
project would constitute a ``major federal action.'' Based on the
potential impacts of the proposed project, the USACE intends to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to render a final decision on the
permit application. The USACE is also preparing an Ethnographic/
Traditional Cultural Landscape Study as part of the EIS and its
responsibilities under section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
DATES: To ensure consideration, all comments regarding the proposed EIS
scope should be received by the Detroit District by October 14, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the proposed EIS scope should be
addressed to: Line 5 Tunnel EIS, 16501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box
10178, Gaithersburg, MD 20898. Comments may also be submitted
electronically at: https://www.Line5TunnelEIS.com. Individuals can also
subscribe to receive EIS updates at this website.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this project, to
be included on the mailing list for future updates and public meeting
announcements, or to receive a copy of the Draft EIS when it is issued,
visit https://www.Line5TunnelEIS.com or contact Ms. Katie Otanez at the
USACE at 313-226-5479.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USACE, Detroit District, intends to
prepare an EIS for the proposed Line 5 Tunnel Project. As part of the
DA permit application review, the Detroit District issued a Public
Notice on May 15, 2020, and held a Public Hearing on December 7, 2020.
The purpose of the notice and hearing was to seek comments and
information to better enable the Detroit District to make a reasonable
decision on factors affecting the public interest. All comments
received to date will be considered by the Detroit District during EIS
preparation.
The USACE's decision will be to issue, issue with modification, or
deny the DA permit for the proposed action. The EIS will assess the
potential social, economic, cultural, and environmental impacts of the
proposed project and is intended to be sufficient in scope to address
Federal, State, and local requirements, and cultural, environmental,
socioeconomic, and Tribal factors related to the proposed action and
permit review.
1. Public Involvement: The USACE invites all affected Federal,
State, and local agencies, Native American Tribes, other interested
parties, and the general public to participate in the NEPA process
during development of the EIS. The purpose of the public scoping
process is to provide information to the public, identify potentially
significant environmental issues for in-depth analysis, serve as a
mechanism to solicit agency, Tribal, and public input on alternatives
and issues of concern, and ensure full and open participation in
scoping for the Draft EIS. To ensure that all of the issues related to
this proposed project are addressed, the USACE will conduct public
scoping meetings in which agencies, organizations, Tribes, and members
of the general public are invited to present comments or suggestions
with regard to the range of actions, alternatives, and potential
impacts to be considered in the EIS. The USACE invites comments on the
proposed scope and content of the EIS from all interested parties.
The USACE will coordinate its review under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (section 106) with its NEPA process,
pursuant to 36 CFR 800.8(a) and will use the EIS scoping process to
facilitate consultation under Section 106. The USACE invites all
interested parties to provide comments on identification of and
potential effects to historic properties during the EIS scoping period.
In addition, individuals and organizations with a demonstrated interest
in the project may request to participate as a consulting party in the
USACE's Section 106 review. The USACE will determine whether to grant
such requests.
2. Scoping Meetings: The specific dates, times, and locations of
the meetings will be published in press releases and on the USACE's
project website: www.Line5TunnelEIS.com.
3. Public Comment Availability: Before including your address,
telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made
publicly available. While you can ask in your comment that your
personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the
USACE cannot guarantee that this will occur.
4. Proposed Action: Enbridge's Line 5, in operation since 1953,
transports light crude oil, light synthetic crude oil, light sweet
crude oil, and natural gas liquids. It supplies domestic and foreign
refineries throughout the region that produce products such as
gasoline, propane, butanes, diesel, jet fuel, asphalt, and other
consumer products. Line 5 extends for 645 miles between Superior,
Wisconsin and Sarnia, Ontario. In Michigan, Line 5 crosses the Straits,
an approximately 4-mile-long span of water that connects Lake Michigan
and Lake Huron. At the point of and for the duration of that crossing,
Line 5 currently consists of two 20-inch diameter pipes that rest on or
are anchored to the lakebed of the Straits (referred to as the ``Line 5
Dual Pipelines'' or ``Dual Pipelines''). Enbridge is proposing to
construct a tunnel underneath the lakebed of the Straits. This tunnel
would house a new 30-inch single pipeline for light crude oil, light
synthetic crude oil, light sweet crude oil, and natural gas liquids,
replacing the existing, dual pipelines crossing the Straits. The tunnel
would be constructed and operated by Enbridge and owned, upon the
completion of its construction, by the Mackinac Straits Corridor
Authority (Authority). In addition to Line 5, the tunnel would provide
the potential to accommodate other third-party utilities.
The tunnel is being pursued in accordance with the ``Tunnel
Agreement'' that was executed by Enbridge and the State of Michigan on
December 19, 2018. That Agreement was entered in furtherance of Public
Act 359, through which the State of Michigan established the Authority
and delegated to it the right to acquire, construct, maintain, improve,
repair, and manage a utility tunnel across the Straits. The State of
Michigan also granted an easement for the proposed tunnel in December
2018. The 1953 easement for the existing dual pipelines crossing of the
Straits was revoked on November 13, 2020, by Michigan Governor Whitmer
and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. To date, Enbridge
continues to operate Line 5 through the Straits.
The proposed tunnel would cross below the lakebed of the Straits,
connecting Point La Barbe in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to McGulpin
Point in Michigan's Lower Peninsula, in Mackinac and Emmet Counties,
respectively. The distance between these two land points is
approximately 3.6 miles and represents the shortest distance between
Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The tunnel would extend as near
as practicable to Enbridge's existing Line 5 North Straits Facility
located on the north side of the Straits to an opening point as near as
practicable to Enbridge's existing Line 5 Mackinaw Station located on
the south side of the Straits.
[[Page 50076]]
Except for the entrance points on either side of the Straits, the
tunnel would be constructed entirely within the bedrock at depths
between 30 feet and 370 feet beneath the lakebed of the Straits. Once
complete, the proposed tunnel's inside diameter would be approximately
21 feet. The tunnel would be constructed using a tunnel-boring machine.
Pre-cast concrete segmental lining would be installed as the tunnel is
constructed, and the space outside the tunnel's concrete lining would
be filled with low-permeability grout. The tunnel would provide
secondary containment, which is intended to minimize the potential for
leakage of fluids from Line 5 into the lakebed or the Straits. Tunnel
construction activities would result in removal of approximately
364,000 cubic yards of material from underneath the lakebed. The
material would be transported to offsite upland disposal sites.
A shallow launch portal between 400 and 1,000 feet long, 40 to 60
feet wide, and 50 to 80 feet deep would be constructed in uplands
within the southern work area (McGulpin Point) and would serve as the
entry point for the tunnel-boring machine. A circular shaft 70 feet in
diameter and 150 feet deep would be constructed in uplands at the
tunnel-boring machine exit point in the northern work area (Point La
Barbe). The construction area within the proposed limits of disturbance
would be covered in gravel fill. Temporary construction facilities in
uplands would include stormwater ponds, spoil storage and management
areas, a construction water treatment plant, materials storage and
staging areas, office and parking facilities, and a power substation
and generator. Permanent facilities constructed in uplands would
include stormwater ponds, outfall structures, access drives, and a
ventilation building at each end of the tunnel. Remaining areas within
the limits of disturbance would be revegetated.
The proposed project would involve placement of fill into a total
of approximately 0.13 acre of wetlands, including 0.10 acre of
permanent impact and 0.03 acre of temporary impact. The purposes of the
fill include: construction of two outfall structures (0.02 acre wetland
impact), widening Boulevard Drive to the south and east of the work
area for construction equipment access (0.08 acre), and providing
access to an upland materials staging area (0.03 acre). After
completion of construction, the fill in this 0.03-acre area would be
removed, and the area would be seeded with emergent wetland seed mix.
Two water intake structures for construction of the tunnel would be
installed offshore on each side of the Straits. A discharge pipe would
be connected to the southern intake, which would be used intermittently
to discharge treated process water into the Straits. Each intake
structure would be marked with a surface buoy. The offshore intake
structures and discharge pipe would be removed upon completion of
tunnel construction.
A new 30-inch pipeline would be installed within the tunnel and
connected to the existing portions of the Line 5 pipeline. Upon
completion, Enbridge proposes to decommission the existing submerged
Line 5 dual pipelines crossing the Straits by purging, cleaning, and
abandoning them in place.
5. Location: The proposed project is located within Mackinac County
in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Emmet County within Michigan's Lower
Peninsula and includes subsurface crossing of the Straits. The project
can be located on the U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle map entitled
McGulpin Point, Michigan.
6. Purpose and Need: The purpose of the project is to provide
transportation of light crude oil, light synthetic crude oil, light
sweet crude oil, and natural gas liquids between Enbridge's existing
North Straits Facility and Mackinaw Station, and to approximately
maintain the existing capacity of the Line 5 pipeline while minimizing
environmental risks.
7. Alternatives: A number of project alternatives will be evaluated
in the EIS, including the applicant's proposed alternative and a No
Action alternative, which may entail permit denial, withdrawal, or
alternatives that do not require a DA permit. Additional alternatives
to be considered include alternatives that would avoid, minimize, and
compensate for impacts to the environment within the proposed project
footprint; alternatives that would avoid, minimize, and compensate for
impacts to the environment outside the footprint; alternatives using
alternative practices; and other reasonable alternatives that will be
developed through the project scoping process, that also meet the
identified purpose and need.
8. Scoping Process: The purpose of the public scoping process is to
identify relevant issues that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. General concerns in the
following categories have been identified to date: potential direct
effects to waters of the United States including wetlands; water and
sediment quality; aquatic species and fisheries; threatened and
endangered species; archaeological and cultural resources, including
the Straits as a Traditional Cultural Landscape; Tribal treaty rights
and interests; recreation and recreational resources; waste management;
aesthetics; noise; air quality; climate change, including greenhouse
gas emissions and the social cost of greenhouse gases; public health
and safety during construction and operations; navigation; erosion;
invasive species; energy needs; environmental justice; needs and
welfare of the people; and cumulative effects. All parties who express
interest will be given an opportunity to participate in the process.
9. Coordination: The proposed action is being coordinated with
Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, and Federally recognized
Tribes. As part of the NEPA process, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office
(SHPO), Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
Chippewa Indians, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, Little Traverse
Bay Bands of Odawa Indians,
Match[hyphen]E[hyphen]Be[hyphen]Nash[hyphen]She[hyphen]Wish Band of
Pottawatomi Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, and
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have agreed to be
cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. USACE will consult
with the SHPO, Federally recognized Tribes, and other consulting
parties to fulfill its responsibilities under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act and will consult with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to fulfill its responsibilities under Section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act.
10. Availability of Draft EIS and Public Comment: The Draft EIS is
estimated to be available for public review and comment in the fall of
2023. At that time a 60-day public review period will be provided for
individuals and agencies to review and comment on the Draft EIS.
Kimberly A. Peeples,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Commander, Great Lakes and Ohio River
Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-17444 Filed 8-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
