A permanent cap is soldered and affixed to a severed American Transmission Company cable April 26, 2018 in the Straits of Mackinac. (Photo courtesy of the American Transmission Company)
MACKINAW CITY, Mich., — All of the affected utility cables owned by American Transmission Company have been soldered, capped, sealed and laid on the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac in its original position.
ATC is preparing a long-term plan to remove the damaged cables, under the oversight of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
A total of 625 gallons of mineral oil was recovered from the lines.
Consumers Energy is developing a plan, under the oversight of the Unified Command, to respond to the damage to their de-energized, retired cables in the Straits of Mackinac. The company reported to the Unified Command that there is no free flowing fluid within their retired cables.
Consumers Energy is working to obtain a sample of the affected line to test for chemical properties within the 46 kV cable.
