House Approves of Great Lakes Protection Plan

Liz Gullett

Oct 05, 2018

This week, the House of Representatives passed legislation strengthening pipeline safety standards in the Straits of Mackinac. The “Straits of Mackinac Safety, Protection, and Accountability” action plan seeks to:

Improve reporting from pipeline operators to the State of Michigan.
Increase the safety and security of utility lines that provide communities in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula with access to phone, cable, natural gas, oil and electricity.
Clearly establish the Straits as a no-anchor zone.
Require additional signs and buoys alerting boats not to use anchors in the Straits.
Establish clear penalties for vessels that break maritime laws and jeopardize the safety of Michigan’s waterways.
Provide added accountability and increased penalties for those responsible for negligence or criminal damage to public utilities.
Protect people who report violations of maritime safety laws that threaten the Great Lakes.

The five-bill package will be sent to the Senate for consideration.

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