February 6, 2026
Army Corps Ignores Climate Risks, Moves Forward on Line 5 Pipeline with Final Environmental Impact Statement
LANSING—The Army Corps of Engineers has moved to advance the Line 5 pipeline project with the release of its final environmental impact statement.
In Response, MiCAN’s Executive Director Dr. Denise Keele, has issued the following statement:
“The Army Corps of Engineers ignored substantial evidence from our comments and those of countless other Michiganders by completely excluding climate change and greenhouse gas considerations from its final environmental impact statement. This exclusion is based solely on President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, Unleashing American Energy, and associated authorities. Climate change is real, and ignoring these impacts silences the voices of Michiganders who overwhelmingly oppose a project that would lock us into more deadly fossil fuel infrastructure—benefiting a Canadian corporation while leaving Michigan taxpayers to foot the bill.
The Army Corps of Engineers also failed to address unresolved treaty rights. For the impacts that were considered, however, their findings confirm what Michigan citizens have been saying: Line 5 would cause cumulative harm to land, wildlife habitat, and wetlands. And this is without factoring in climate change, which would only worsen these effects. Moving forward, the tunnel project cannot proceed without Michigan’s approval. We will be at the Michigan Supreme Court next month over the MPSC decision. The EGLE decision is still open for public comment this spring, and Governor Whitmer has the opportunity to act decisively to protect the Great Lakes.
Governor Whitmer faces a clear choice: cave to the Trump administration and Big Oil, or stand up for Michigan and safeguard our climate and water. All eyes are on her.”
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