Remember those crazy Detroit Free Press ads Enbridge ran back in late October? We miss them. We had quite a bit of fun slicing and dicing them. It was pretty easy pickin’s, too. First, they tried to seduce us by featuring an Enbridge employee who only served to remind us of the Marshall debacle. Then they tried to convince us that Enbridge land agents are a kind, friendly, neighborly lot who just want what is best for us. Then they gave us an almost poetic image of a pipeline running through the wilderness that can only be described as “pipeline pastoral.”
Then we got sidetracked. Other matters intervened and we never quite got around to the last of these ads. That’s a shame, because the last one is a real piece of work. We’re pleased to return to it now, at long last. First, take a look. Apparently, this camouflage-clad hunter-guy thinks Enbridge is “Respectful, Responsive, and Fair”:
But that’s not the best part. It turns out that this is no ordinary landowner. No, this is “Dr. Michael Milan, a 24-year Michigan resident” who “has worked extensively with Enbridge over the past three years.” Yes, that’s right, he is a doctor! Evidently, we’re supposed to find this pretty impressive, as if we all recognize that a doctor’s view of Enbridge’s behavior is going to be a lot more credible than all of those unreasonable average-joes. And of course, as an added bonus, Michael Milan is no ordinary doctor; he also exudes a certain authentic Michigan rugged outdoorsiness. Just look at him: he’s wearing a camouflage jacket and a hunting cap and everything!
We don’t know about you, but we find this more than a little insulting. Don’t get us wrong, we’re glad that things have gone smoothly for Michael Milan out there on his “scenic 20 acres,” where he has “received information on pipeline safety and visits from [his] Enbridge land agent” over the course of “five maintenance digs.” We’re also glad to hear that his “land agent stops by regularly just to make sure things are okay.” In fact, we’d like nothing more than for everyone to have such a pleasant experience. And we’ve certainly never denied that plenty of landowners have had perfectly pleasant experiences with Enbridge. But if trotting out this guy, dressing him up like Ted Nugent, and making sure we all know he’s a doctor is somehow supposed to mitigate all the stories of Enbridge’s disrespectfulness, lack of responsiveness, and unfair treatment of landowners– well, that’s just plain offensive.
In fact, for every “Dr. Michael Milan” Enbridge can produce who says Enbridge is “respectful, responsive, and fair,” we could probably produce a landowner whose experience demonstrates precisely the opposite. In fact, we can even produce one who is actually Michael Milan’s neighbor– and we don’t mean a metaphorical Enbridge neighbor either; we mean one who lives in very close proximity to Milan– not to mention one whose Michigan bona fides are at least as impressive as the good doctor’s. Let us introduce you to:
William Aldrich, an electrical engineer for one of the Big 3 automakers and a lifelong Michigan resident:
Since 1981, I have worked to ensure that native trees were allowed to thrive on my property by performing selective pruning and tree removal. I have planted additional native trees not represented and removed many invasive species. Over 30 species of Michigan native trees and shrubs are represented in area designated by Enbridge as Temporary Workspace. I have made it a point of pride to be able to name and protect and enhance the diverse species of plants that reside on my property. I have expended significant time, effort and money to achieve these ends. For months, I attempted to work with Enbridge to minimize the amount of unnecessary damage and return the property to its current mix of diverse native species of plants.
In order to minimize the damage to this native flora, I attempted to work with my land agent to provide a Temporary Work Space that would preserve as many trees as possible while giving Enbridge an additional 200 square feet of workspace. I also reached an agreement with my land agent specifying that the stumps of trees that must be removed in the TWS be left in the ground to allow them to resprout. Yet Enbridge ignored my win-win proposal for modifying the TWS, disregarded the agreement not to remove stumps (tearing them out of the ground anyway), and clear cut numerous trees clearly desgnated by my ROW agent as “do not cut,” some mere inches from the Temporary Work Space boundary line.
In short, my dealings with the designated Enbridge right-of-way representative have been incomplete, contentious, sporadic, unanswered and in many cases violated. Enbridge’s own actions consistently contradict the Enbridge right-of-way representative’s assertions and agreements.
Excellent story! You nailed it.
5 maintenance digs on 20 acres? That many digs make me concerned. And, did any of those digs find items that needed repairs, but, were put off? That’s still the big mystery question of the Marshall rupture, many of the anomalies on Line 6B were classified as being in the 18 month category to check & fix as needed, but, were not looked at by digging & checking.
Who are these people claiming to be seeing and hearing from their land agents? We haven’t heard from ours once since singing. Nor have any of our neighbors. What happened to the old adage; “an informed customer is a happy customer.”?
.i realize I am very late in replying to this posting. I’ve had many unfortunate distractions that have kept me from replying.
First, let me say, my husband, Tom,.has earned the title of Doctor. Tom earned his PhD in Engineering from Michigan State University.
The ad from Enbridge does not identify what sort of doctorate Mr Mulin might hold. From reading the ad and then the quotes attributed to Mr. Mulin, his supposed degree must is in fantasy, dreams and gullible notions.
No one from Enbridge chose to spotlight Dr. Tom in their absurd ads. Tom would have been quoted as saying, Enbridge is not responsive, as evidenced by, our water line leak to our barn discovered on a Friday evening around 5pm. After, first denying Enbridge “couldn’t possibly have anything to do with that water line leak:”, ROW agent Russ Siksa, went on to say they(Enbridge) would be out to look at it in the morning. Fourteen hours and a major flood later he showed up to “look” at the gushing water. All i can say is “Thank you Jesus”, it wasn’t tar sand oil gushing for those 14 hours. as well as the additional 4 hours it took Enbridge onsite employees to figure out how to stop the flooding.
Respectful?? On September 16, 2012. I requested from Enbridge, 12 hours of peace and quiet on September 17. to bring my Mom home to die in her own bed .I had promised Mom she would be in her own home in her own bed, when the end came. Enbridge denied me any possibility of keeping that promise. Enbridge would not delay cutting down my centuries old hardwood forest. scheduled for September 17. The horrible destruction of my beautiful forest commenced at 8am and continued throughout the day. i couldn’t bring Mom home to all the noise, dust, chainsaw buzz, men yelling, huge tractors grabbing the trees and splintering them. The end of life is supposed to be peaceful and tranquil. I don’t believe I will ever be able to forgive ruthless Enbridge for taking away the final peaceful hours I should have had with my Mom.
Fair?? What is FAIR about 2 ROW agents showing up on my farm, telling me the only way to save any of my trees was to “sign right now”! No opportunity to contact my attorney or my husband was going to be allowed. Either i signed NOW or my trees would be destroyed!! AND…the part about going around some of my trees would only be added into the contract AFTER I signed. FAIR??