MI HCR0059

Urges the Governor to formulate a comprehensive plan for improved pipeline oversight in Michigan

Cites the Enbridge Line 6B rupture on July 25, 2010 in Marshall, Michigan, which spilled over 840,000 gallons of heavy crude oil and resulted in $800 million in cleanup costs, the most expensive on-shore oil spill in U.S. history

Notes the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the rupture to pervasive organizational failures by Enbridge and weak government oversight, with the pipeline pumping crude oil for more than 17 hours before being recognized

Identifies 3,128 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines in Michigan with no federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) inspectors based in the state, despite PHMSA having only 113 inspectors for over 2 million miles nationwide

Recommends Michigan establish its own pipeline inspectors with authority to monitor pipeline companies and intervene as appropriate to protect natural resources