Committee supports resolution urging expedited review of Line 5 tunnel; opponents warn of environmental and technical risks

The House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism voted to report House Resolution 91 with recommendation, a nonbinding resolution that applauds recent federal actions to designate the Line 5 tunnel project for expedited review under a presidential emergency declaration.

Representative John Preston, who presented the resolution, told the committee the designation followed a Jan. 20, 2025 executive order and said a draft environmental review would be released May 30 for a 30-day public comment period. “A federal permit could be issued as soon as this fall,” Preston said, and he argued the tunnel project would protect energy deliveries used for heating in the Upper Peninsula.

Preston said Line 5 supplies roughly 65% of the Upper Peninsula’s propane demand and described the tunnel as a way to provide interstitial containment and updated infrastructure. He said the tunnel “creates that interstitial containment that that Line 5 desperately needs,” adding the project was the best-available technology for addressing pipeline risks.

Committee questioning addressed whether the resolution would change outcomes and whether federal or state leaders had been directly contacted about the project. Representative Weiss noted the measure is nonbinding and asked whether the presenter had contacted Illinois or federal officials directly; Preston said the effort had included letters and prior engagement with the Army Corps but not necessarily direct conversations with all executives named in the resolution.

Public testimony included two opponents who urged the committee to oppose fast-tracking. Nicole Biber cited studies suggesting more jobs from decommissioning Line 5 than from tunnel construction, argued existing pipelines and logistics could compensate for Line 5’s transport role, and warned about geotechnical and methane risks in tunneling. Sean McBrearty, Michigan director for Clean Water Action, said expert testimony previously showed an immediate shutdown would not cause regional fuel shortages and argued Enbridge’s geotechnical work was limited; he also warned that future liability could shift to Michigan taxpayers if the state took ownership of the completed tunnel.

On the motion to report House Resolution 91 with recommendation, Representative Preston moved; the clerk recorded 9 yeas, 6 nays and 1 pass. The motion prevailed. Committee members noted the resolution is intended to support an expedited federal review process rather than to create new legal authority at the state level.

What happens next: The committee reported the resolution to the full House. Supporters said the measure encourages federal agencies to accelerate the environmental review and permitting process; opponents said fast-tracking raised unanswered engineering, environmental and tribal consultation questions that merit fuller review.