The Line 5 oil pipeline is putting at risk the Great Lakes — the world’s largest surface freshwater system. The State of Michigan can still stop the construction.
The Line 5 pipeline has already leaked over 1 million gallons of oil to date and threatens the Great Lakes. Time is running out to stop one company’s dangerous plans to keep the oil flowing.
Four Michigan Tribes and environmental groups ask the state Supreme Court to consider overturning a lower court decision that upheld the Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit for the Line 5 tunnel project.
Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney, Midwest Office, Earthjustice: “If the Corps advances the Line 5 tunnel project through this process, we expect them to comply with the law. The truth is there is no national energy emergency, and even if there was, Line 5 is a pipeline that transports Canadian oil primarily to Canada. It will…
Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney, Midwest Office: “This would be unprecedented. The only time the corps’ emergency provisions have been used before have been for natural disasters.”
Six Michigan Tribes withdrew from Line 5 federal discussions after learning that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will likely fast-track its approval for Enbridge’s massive oil tunnel project, in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order declaring an “energy emergency.”
Adam Ratchenski, Attorney, Midwest Office: “Nobody wants their water poisoned or their property values torpedoed in order to keep Canadian oil and gas flowing through the Great Lakes.”
Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney, Midwest Office: “It is laughable to see Line 5 on this list. It’s a pipeline that carries crude oil from Canada to Canada and will not increase U.S. capacity or respond to Trump’s declared energy emergency.”
The Michigan Court of Appeals struck down a challenge by Tribal Nations and green groups who sought to overturn the Michigan Public Service Commission’s decision to permit Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
Adam Ratchenski, Attorney, Midwest Office, Earthjustice: “The right to present witnesses, evidence, and argument, and to present rebuttal evidence, is part of the rudimentary due process that’s required in administrative proceedings.”
An internal memo circulated in January 2025 by Former Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Jaime Pinkham directed the agency to assess the risk of oil spills from approving the Line 5 oil tunnel project, and to consider other alternatives in its review.
The Bay Mills Indian Community, represented by Earthjustice and NARF, join six other Tribal Nations in supporting Attorney General Nessel’s claims against Enbridge and the continued operation of the Line 5 dual pipelines.
A brief submitted by four Tribal Nations asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to overturn the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC’s) recent approval for Canadian oil giant Enbridge to build the Line 5 tunnel project beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
