National Wildlife Federation May Sue U.S. DOT Over Pipeline Safety Regulation

An environmental group is threatening to sue the federal government over the possibility of oil pipelines leaking in lakes or rivers.

The National Wildlife Federation is alleging that for 20 years, the U.S. Transportation Department has failed to require owners and operators of petroleum pipelines that go across navigable waters to get approval of a safety response plan. The federation’s Mark Shriberg said there have been many spills in lakes and rivers during that time, and the public isn’t protected.

“The public has no assurance that pipeline operators like Enbridge are fully prepared to clean up an oil spill in critical waterways like the Straits of Mackinac and many other across our country,” said Shriberg.

The federation has filed a notice of intent to sue the DOT within 60 days, unless the government takes action. Enbridge told The Associated Press that it has a detailed emergency response plan for its underwater pipelines in the straits between lakes Michigan and Huron.