New Report: Midwest Auto and Manufacturing Revival Takes Region Beyond “Drill Baby Drill”, Anchors Job Growth, Innovation Nationwide

October 19 - As voters contemplate who will occupy the White House and Congress in the years ahead, the Center for the Next Generation and the Center for American Progress released “Regional Energy, National Solutions,” a new report that argues that the United States needs a real strategy to achieve lasting energy and economic security – one that builds on the powerful assets of each region of the country and invests in multiple forms of energy and fuel.

“In the Midwest, American workers and the automotive industry are proving every day that America has what it takes to rebuild our economy, lead globally, and combat climate change at the same time,” said Zoe Lipman, Senior Manager New Energy Solutions, at the National Wildlife Federation, who authored the Midwest chapter of the Report.

New Report: Southeast Leadership In Next Generation Electricity Powers Region Beyond “Drill Baby Drill”, Spurs Jobs, Businesses, Innovation

October 19 - As voters contemplate who will occupy the White House and Congress in the years ahead, the Center for the Next Generation and the Center for American Progress released “Regional Energy, National Solutions,” a new report that argues that the United States needs a real strategy to achieve lasting energy and economic security – one that builds on the powerful assets of each region of the country and invests in multiple forms of energy and fuel.

“Jobs being built across the Southeast today show that America has what it takes to meet the challenge of climate change, thrive in a resource-constrained global economy, and create lasting economic growth at home,” said Zoe Lipman, Senior Manager New Energy Solutions at the National Wildlife Federation, who authored the Southeast chapter of the report.

New Report Details Major Pipeline Threat to Great Lakes

October 18 – Today the National Wildlife Federation released a report warning of a pipeline hazard located beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Submerged in the waters, where  Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, more than 20 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas fluids are pumped every day through aging pipelines operated by Enbridge Energy—the Canadian company responsible for the worst inland oil disaster in U.S. history. The report comes as Enbridge faces increasing scrutiny for safety lapses both in the U.S. and Canada.

Sunken Hazard: Aging oil pipelines beneath the Straits of Mackinac, an ever-present threat to the Great Lakes, documents how an oil spill from the pipeline—commonly referred to as Line 5—would have devastating consequences for people, fish and wildlife and the economy.

Fair, Robust Resolution Needed for Gulf Oil Disaster

October 18 - To avoid a trial for the Gulf oil disaster, recent reports suggest BP has offered amounts ranging from $16 to $18 billion—an inadequate amount that is less than half of the total liability to repair what is the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

“BP should not be let off the hook with a low settlement and allowed to shortchange the Gulf,” said John Kostyack, vice president of wildlife conservation at the National Wildlife Federation. “A low settlement leaves the Gulf of Mexico more vulnerable to further deterioration from natural and manmade disasters, as well as demonstrates to polluters that they will not be held fully accountable.”

The Clean Water Act Turns 40

October 17 – Forty years ago, in a show of bipartisan support, Congress passed the Clean Water Act of 1972. Hunters and anglers have supported strong Clean Water Act protections, understanding that clean water and healthy wetlands and streams are essential to healthy fish and wildlife. This year, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and the historic results this keystone legislation has achieved: healthier water to drink; cleaner streams, rivers, and lakes in which to swim, fish, and play; and dramatically lower rates of natural wetland loss.

NRPA and National Wildlife Federation Join Forces on Goal to Connect 10 Million More Kids to Nature

October 16 - The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has joined with National Wildlife Federation (NWF) in its unprecedented goal to get 10 million more kids to spend more time outdoors over the next three years. Working together, NRPA and NWF will combat the growing trend of “indoor childhood” and lack of “green time” among our nation’s youth. This partnership was announced today at the NRPA Annual Congress and Exposition. Public park and recreation departments in communities across the country will play a major role in accomplishing this vital goal.

Research shows children are spending long hours indoors using electronic media yet they spend only mere minutes a day in unstructured outdoor play. This is affecting the health and well-being of children and is quickly causing a generation of kids who are becoming less healthy and who are disconnected from the natural world around them.

The Greenforce Initiative Links Employers and Community Colleges to Meet Growing Need for Sustainability Skills

October 15 - The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and Jobs for the Future (JFF) have launched a new phase of the Greenforce Initiative, a multi-year effort to help community colleges expand economic opportunity as the United States moves toward a more environmentally sustainable economy.

Through a two-year, $500,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, NWF and JFF are building networks of employers and community college leaders to collaborate on helping students develop job-ready skills through better sustainability and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) training, which also helps address the skills gaps that exist in these employment fields.

And here are highlights from NWF in the News:

Two Enbridge pipelines cross the Straits of Mackinac,under our lakes, just west of the Bridge, Photo: MDOT Mackinac Bridge

“This is a recipe for disaster,” said Andy Buchsbaum, director of the Great Lakes office of the National Wildlife Federation in Ann Arbor. “This toxic oil pipeline is 60 years old, runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac, and is operated by a company with a terrible record of spills and ruptures. Now they want to increase pressure and temperature in the line by pumping an additional 50,000 barrels—2.1 million gallons—per day. This is a BP oil spill scale catastrophe waiting to happen.”

Enbridge Energy has been responsible for more than 800 pipeline spills in the United States and Canada between 1999-2010, including the biggest inland oil spill in U.S. history, in which more than 1 million gallons of oil spilled into the Kalamazoo River.

Despite its shoddy safety record, Enbridge Energy is now trying to expand Line 5. This project is part of a system wide expansion that will have massive impacts throughout the entire Great Lakes region as Enbridge gears up to push incredible amounts of toxic tar sands oil through our waters to refineries that dot the lakes. In addition, that oil is not likely to stay here. Enbridge is also expanding their pipeline network east of Michigan to push tar sands oil to New England and possibly out for export through the Portland-Montreal pipeline.

This NWF map simulates a 3, 6 and 12 hour spill from line 5 based on Enbridge spill response plans, average current speeds and “worse case” discharge estimates.

There is very little known about the integrity of Line 5 because Enbridge, and agencies charged with pipeline oversight, refuse to provide the pubic maintenance records or inspection history. What we do know is that Enbridge’s emergency response plans for this location are abysmal. The overall line is nearly 60 years old and has had its fair share of spills. And there is no margin for error when it comes to preventing oil spills in the Great Lakes: the Lakes provide drinking water for 30 million people in the U.S. and Canada, support a $7 billion fishery, a $16 billion recreational boating economy and are the backbone of one of the world’s largest regional economies.

The report makes the following recommendations to address the sunken hazard of Enbridge’s Line 5:

• PHMSA should deny the proposed 50,000 barrels per day expansion of the Enbridge pumping rate. PHMSA has authority under a federal corrective action agreement to regulate Enbridge activities anywhere along the Lakehead system, which includes Line 5. The higher pressures, and possibly temperatures, in a 60-year old line are too great a risk to the Straits, one of the jewels of Michigan and the Great Lakes.
• Enbridge should be required to install additional response centers on either side of the Straits to speed their response to any spills or ruptures.
• The 60-year old pipeline should be replaced, but only to its current size. Michigan should not have even more oil running through the Great Lakes.
• The federal agency, PHMSA, should declare a moratorium on any new or expanded pipelines that transport a highly toxic form of crude—tar sands derived oil that contains diluted bitumen—until after the National Academy of Sciences completes an ongoing study on this type of crude and new regulations are promulgated.
• Passage of the proposed ballot measure to increase clean energy from utilities, Proposal 3, would reduce the diesel gasoline used to transport coal into the state and promote the type of technological innovation that increases fuel economy in vehicles and decreases the demand for gasoline.

Take action to stop dangerous tar sands pipelines projects.

If you want to reach out to PHMSA directly and let them know you want to stop Enbridge from being allowed to expand, you can email them: phmsa.hm-approvals@dot.gov or call: 202-366-4535

Photo: Linda Shafe, Battle Creek
Enbridge stockpiles pipelines for their expansion to Line 6B of the Lakehead system.