Michigan Court of Appeals Upholds Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Project Permits

On February 19, a Michigan appeals court ruled in favor of Enbridge Energy against the case brought forward by environmental groups and Native American tribes. 

The Michigan state Public Service Commission lawfully issued Enbridge Energy permits to construct a tunnel that would encase and protect the major pipeline that runs under the Great Lakes, according to the appeals court. Environmental groups and Native American tribes had argued that the Line 5 pipeline as a whole was unnecessary and harmful, claiming it facilitated the production of greenhouse gases.

Enbridge has been operating the pipeline since 1953. In 2018, the company reached an agreement with the Michigan governor at the time to build a tunnel around the pipeline around growing public fears that the pipeline would leak and contaminate the Great Lakes.

There is, however, still a pending case against Enbridge that claims the easement agreement that allows the company to operate on certain lands should be void.