Michigan Supreme Court rejects permit for Enbridge oil pipeline under Great Lakes
Summary
The Michigan Supreme Court has told state regulators to review a permit for a tunnel that would carry the Enbridge oil pipeline under the Great Lakes. The court found the regulators did not properly consider environmental impacts and alternatives before approving the permit.Key Facts
- The permit was for a tunnel to carry Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, where Lakes Huron and Michigan meet.
- Line 5 is a 73-year-old pipeline owned by Canadian company Enbridge, running from Wisconsin to Ontario.
- The Michigan Public Service Commission approved the tunnel permit in 2023.
- Four Michigan tribal nations and environmental groups challenged the permit in court.
- The Michigan Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that regulators failed to assess if the tunnel would extend the pipeline’s life and cause more environmental harm.
- The court also said the commission did not properly compare other options for moving oil, like trucks or trains, and overlooked impacts on fishing, boating, and public rights.
- Enbridge said building the tunnel would reduce spill risk and support energy reliability but is considering legal responses to the ruling.
- Environmentalists and some tribal groups say the pipeline poses a major risk to the Great Lakes and the area is a sacred site for Indigenous peoples.
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