MACKINAW CITY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Enbridge is reporting that a broken steel borehole rod has been successfully retrieved from the Straits of Mackinac lakebed.
In a statement, the company claimed that the 45-foot steel rod that had been used in recent geotechnical work for the Great Lakes Tunnel Project. The retrieval operation was completed Saturday, Dec. 28th.
Enbridge deployed a specialized underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) from a work barge to retrieve the rod from the lakebed, which had been under preparation for the last two weeks. State officials with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) were consulted before the ROV was deployed.
Previously, EGLE was notified about the issue in November.
Enbridge officials say that the favorable weather conditions at the Straits in recent weeks prevented the water from icing over, allowing the time needed to finish the project.
The rod had moved from its original position and was found resting on the west leg of the pipeline.
Officials say the rod never posed any safety or environmental risk to Line 5, the water, nor ship traffic in the Straits.
