Red flags have gone up as Washington considers allowing the shipment of heavy crude oil through a 98-year-old pipeline under the St. Clair River.
Virtually no comments were submitted when a 30-day public comment period expired February 24 but detractors say no one knew about the process.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has notified Great Lakes mayors on both sides of the border.
"This is news to us and there is great concern, we're talking about a 98-year-old pipeline," says Bradley.
"I don't think any of us were aware a pipeline of that age existed along the Great Lakes or underneath the river."
The 8" diameter pipeline runs between Marysville, Michigan and the Corunna area.
Plains LPG, based in Houston, acquired the line and five others from Dome Petroleum which had previously told Washington it planned to transport oil through two pipelines under the river.
Under American regulation, if a company receiving a transfer of an existing permit plans to operate in the same way as the original permit, there's no need for an environmental review.
Critics say a spill of heavy crude in the St. Clair River would be catastrophic.
The Sierra Club is asking for the comment period to be extended.
