enbridge

A circuit court judge in Lansing has denied a request by Enbridge to put a hold on the state court case filed by Attorney General Dana Nessel. The AG took Enbridge to court six years ago.

The massive oil spill in the Kalamazoo River 15 years ago polluted the water and shoreline and left oil-coated wildlife. More than a million gallons of oil was recovered along a more than 35 mile stretch of the river.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is taking comments and has scheduled virtual meetings for the public regarding permits to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac for the oil and natural gas liquids pipeline, Line 5.

The case began when Michigan sued in state court to partially shut down Line 5. It got moved to federal court at the request of the Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding a proposal to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac to house a new section of the Enbridge oil pipeline, Line 5. The deadline for comments is Monday, June 30, 2025.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is holding the last virtual public meeting regarding its Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac.

Environmental groups concerned about drilling a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac want Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, EGLE, to deny a Water Resources Permit that would allow the project to go forward.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finds construction could result in permanent loss of wetlands and bat habitat, disturb aquatic wildlife, and degrade roads. But it would eliminate the chance of an anchor strike.

The clock will start on public comment at the end of May, but with half as much time — 30 days instead of 60.

A group of tribal nations and environmental organizations say Enbridge’s plan to encase the oil and gas pipeline in a tunnel doesn’t remove the threat to the Great Lakes.