Date: April 26th, 2016
Topic: Energy, Natural Resources
Type: Administrative Proceeding
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Plains LPG Services, LP proposed to operate two 98-year old pipelines that lay under the St. Clair River. Since the pipeline would transport crude oil from Canada across the United States border, Plains was required by federal law to obtain a permit from the United States Secretary of State. Michigan Attorney General, Bill Schuette, wrote a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to deny the request. Schuette expressed concern with the lack of available information on the construction and condition of the pipelines. Given that there was not an apparent strong need for the additional capacity, the proposed use of the pipelines posed an unnecessary risk to the integrity of the Great Lakes, which could be compromised by a leak or spill. Various other environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, also expressed alarm with the proposal. In response to this criticism, Plains subsequently withdrew its request.
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