WASHINGTON (AP)— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will fast-track permits for building a protective tunnel around the Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. The decision is stoking environmentalists’ fears that the project will escape scrutiny.
The move comes after President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January declaring that the U.S. has become too dependent on foreign energy sources. The order mandates that federal agencies identify energy projects for expedited emergency permitting.
The Corps designated the tunnel project as an emergency under the order on Tuesday. Corps officials say they don't have an expedited timeline yet. They had initially planned to make a permitting decision early next year.
State Senator Ed McBroom and state Representatives Karl Bohnak, Parker Fairbairn, Greg Markkanen, and Dave Prestin are applauding the decision.
