ST. IGNACE — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is continuing to investigate a suspected arson attack at energy company Enbridge’s St. Ignace site on Aug. 31, 2022.
The bureau is offering a $2,500 reward with potential funding to match the bureau’s reward, totaling to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of two individuals suspected of causing the fire.
The fire at Enbridge’s pipeline maintenance shop and storage area damaged several vehicles and pieces of equipment, but no personnel was injured and no damage was done to the pipeline itself.
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying who might have seen these individuals as well as any other information related to events leading up to or immediately after the fire.
The bureau did not provide a physical description of the suspects but believe there were at least two people involved.
All of the evidence collected is currently being processed at the bureau lab in Washington D.C.
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Enbridge provided a statement via email.
“On the morning of Aug. 31, 2022, a suspicious fire broke out at Enbridge’s maintenance office near St. Ignace, Michigan. The fire involved several vehicles and pieces of equipment stored on site. There were no injuries, as no Enbridge personnel were on site when the fire started. We appreciate the quick response from the St. Ignace Fire Department to put out the fire.
“The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the incident. The fire did not impact any pipelines and our systems continued to safely operate.”
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The reward was announced following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to spend an additional 18 months reviewing Enbridge’s permit application for its proposed Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac. It would be between 30 and 370 feet below the Straits.
Enbridge provided a statement following the decision last week.
“While we are supportive of a thorough, comprehensive and carefully considered permitting process that ensures adequate opportunity for review and comment, we are disappointed with the extended timeline for a project of this scope,” the company said.
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The tunnel is Enbridge’s solution to the aging pipeline that has transferred crude oil and natural gas along the Straits’ lakebed for the last 70 years. Currently, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is trying to shut down the pipeline. Last month, she asked the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to send the case back to state court.
Tipsters in the arson investigation should contact Grand Rapids ATF Field Division at 616-301-6100, or 888-ATFTIPS (1-888-283-8477). Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov or through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit app or by visiting www.reportit.com.
— Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter, @Tess_Petoskey.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Reward offered in arson investigation at Enbridge’s St. Ignace site