Judge Grants Bay Mills Indian Community Permission to Intervene in Michigan Pipeline Fight

Victory

Earthjustice to represent Bay Mills in case against oil giant

Contacts

Liz Trotter, Earthjustice, (305) 332-5395

Today an administrative law judge granted Bay Mills Indian Community the right to intervene in the ongoing pipeline fight uniting Tribes, environmental groups and community members against oil giant Enbridge. The decision will allow Bay Mills to be a party in the contested case process evaluating Enbridge’s Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit application. This is the first time that a Tribal Nation has intervened in a proceeding before the Michigan Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission will determine whether Enbridge will get its wish to build a massive tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, to house a new segment of its Line 5 pipeline. The Straits of Mackinac is a place of religious and cultural significance to Bay Mills, in addition to being an important freshwater and fisheries resource. 

“Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline puts our treaty rights and our way of life at risk every single day,” said Chairman Bryan Newland from the Bay Mills Indian Community. “We are going to continue to fight to protect our rights, our waters, and our way of life.”

“We will not sit back and allow an oil giant to strong-arm its way into building this massive tunnel project,” said Christopher Clark attorney at Earthjustice. “The Bay Mills Indian Community has Treaty rights and we intend to make sure that Enbridge knows that.”

Mission Hill, overlooking Spectacle Lake and Lake Superior.
Mission Hill, overlooking Spectacle Lake and Lake Superior. (Photo Courtesy of Shannon Jones / Bay Mills Indian Community)

Additional Resources

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.