ADOPTED -MAY 22, 2001

Agenda Item No. 4

Introduced by Commissioners Dedden and Lynch of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED WOLVERINE PIPELINE ROUTES ACROSS DENSELY POPULATED RESIDENTIAL AREAS IN INGHAM COUNTY

RESOLUTION #01-156

WHEREAS, it is recognized that in 1935 an easement was granted to the company which is today known as Wolverine Pipeline for the construction of a pipeline to carry petroleum products through Meridian Township; and

WHEREAS, Wolverine Pipeline Company has proposed to the Michigan Public Service Commission to replace the existing pipeline with a new, larger pipeline; and

WHEREAS, the Ingham County Board of Commissioners acknowledges the need for a safe and reliable delivery system for petroleum products for the Mid-Michigan area, but also recognizes that the specific location of a petroleum pipeline is a key factor that must be considered in evaluating the relative safety of any proposed pipeline; and

WHEREAS, Wolverine Pipeline Company had considered in the past year a proposal to build a new, larger pipeline along its existing route that runs through Meridian Township, but has since withdrawn that proposal upon a determination that the larger pipeline would be too close to too many "high consequence areas", defined to include homes, businesses, and schools; and

WHEREAS, Wolverine Pipeline Company is currently considering building a pipeline through south Lansing, possibly along a Consumers Energy Company right of way and/or a Michigan Department of Transportation right of way as an alternative route; and

WHEREAS, on April 12, 2001, the Law and Courts Committee of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing regarding the proposed routes through Lansing and has received and reviewed an extensive body of materials from the public and from the Wolverine Pipeline Company regarding this matter, including materials received before, during, and following that hearing; and

WHEREAS, south Lansing is a densely populated residential area; and

WHEREAS, the current proposals to build a pipeline through south Lansing would also place this pipeline too close to too many "high consequence areas" including densely populated neighborhoods consisting of homes and apartments, schools, businesses, and a water treatment plant; and

WHEREAS, when Wolverine Pipeline Company's pipeline located in Blackman Township near Jackson ruptured in June of 2000, people were evacuated for one square mile; and

WHEREAS, evacuating one square mile of people from south Lansing or similarly densely populated parts of Ingham County could mean evacuating thousands of people, a task that would be overwhelming and costly to the county, municipalities, individuals, families, and businesses involved.

MAY 22, 2001

Agenda Item No. 4

RESOLUTION #01-156

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby directs the Controller to communicate to the Michigan Public Service Commission, the Board's strong desire that a new pipeline route be designated away from populated areas in Ingham County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby directs the Controller to send a communication to the Michigan Department of Transportation and Consumers Energy Company urging them not to grant an easement to Wolverine Pipeline Company to build a pipeline across south Lansing, Meridian Township, or any densely populated residential area of Ingham County.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to our State of Michigan legislative delegation and the City of Lansing.

__________________________

Lisa Dedden

__________________________

Calvin Lynch