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Whitney Gravelle, President of the Bay Mills Indian Community. (Sarah Rice for Earthjustice)
Press Release April 3, 2025

Tribes, Greens Take Line 5 Tunnel to Michigan’s Supreme Court

Tribes and environmental orgs are asking the Court to overturn a state agency’s permit

document April 2, 2025

Line 5 Tunnel Application for Leave to Appeal Before MI Supreme Court

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.

In the News: Michigan Advance April 2, 2025

Army Corps of Engineers branch overseeing Line 5 tunnel project gains emergency processing authority

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…

In the News: Politico March 25, 2025

Tribes withdraw from US review of Michigan pipeline project

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.”

Whitney Gravelle, the president of the Bay Mills Indian Community, photographed in Mackinaw City, Michigan, near where the Line 5 pipeline runs under the Straits of Mackinac. (Sarah Rice for Earthjustice)
Press Release March 24, 2025

Tribes Blow Whistle on Line 5 Tunnel Federal Fast-Tracking

Six Tribes end cooperation with U.S. Army Corps over “Energy Emergency” plans

document March 21, 2025

Michigan Tribes’ Withdrawal Letter from Line 5 Tunnel Project EIS Process

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.”

The Pipe Out Paddle Up Floatilla Against the Line 5 pipeline in Mackinaw City, Michigan, on Sept. 3, 2022. (David Ruck for Earthjustice)
Press Release February 20, 2025

Court Denies Tribes, Green Groups a Line 5 Permit Redo

The Michigan Court of Appeals sided with Enbridge and MPSC on tunnel project

In the News: Michigan Advance February 20, 2025

Appeals Court upholds MPSC permit for Line 5 tunnel project

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.”

In the News: Reuters February 19, 2025

Trump’s Army Corps seeks to fast-track 600 ’emergency’ projects through environmental review

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.”

document February 19, 2025

Michigan Court of Appeals Ruling on Line 5 Tunnel Permit

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.

In the News: Inside EPA January 23, 2025

Trump’s Sweeping Moves To End EJ Programs Sparks Sharp Criticism

Debbie Chizewer, Managing Attorney, Midwest Office: “Race is the biggest predictor of exposure to pollution and results in more cancer, more respiratory disease and more harm to children.”

document January 17, 2025

Tribal MSJ and Response in Idaho v. EPA

Earthjustice and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) represent the Nez Perce Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, Bay Mills Indian Community, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in this case.

document January 16, 2025

DTE and EES Coke: Community Information

An explainer for residents and community members in Detroit about the health impacts of DTE’s EES Coke facility, sulfur dioxide emissions, and our intervention in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act lawsuit against the facilities on behalf of Sierra Club.

Adam Ratchenski, Senior Associate Attorney at Earthjustice representing the Bay Mills Indian Community, speaks at a press conference after a hearing at the Michigan Court of Appeals in Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 14, 2025. (Sarah Rice for Earthjustice)
Press Release January 14, 2025

Tribes, Environmental Groups Urge Michigan Appeals Court to Reverse Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Permit Approval

Michigan panel barred evidence about the public need for Line 5 and its risks

In the News: Bloomberg Law January 14, 2025

Opponents of New Enbridge Pipeline Segment Say Evidence Ignored

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.”

document January 7, 2025

U.S. Army Corps Internal Memo on Line 5 Tunnel Project Review

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.

document December 13, 2024

EPA “May Affect” Letter on Line 5 Reroute

A letter from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stating that Enbridge’s proposed Line 5 reroute project may affect the water quality of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

document December 2, 2024

Tribal Amicus Brief in Nessel v. Enbridge

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.