MiCAN & the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) set out to appeal the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) approval of Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project. Unfortunately, despite strong evidence that the MPSC failed to fully consider the long-term environmental impacts of this project, the Michigan Court of Appeals has denied our appeal. Although disappointing, it’s not the end of the road. Watch the Press Release and MCOA Oral Arguments that occurred.
Line 5: Far From a Great Placement
Nearly 23 million gallons of oil flow daily through two aging pipelines in the heart of the Great Lakes, known as Line 5. Line 5 operates 21 years past its expected lifespan and spans 645 miles across the Midwest, transporting oil from Alberta to Sarnia, Canada. This aging pipeline puts the Great Lakes at enormous risk from an oil spill, but the oil carried by this pipeline and once refined and burned, also creates a vast carbon spill into the atmosphere.
Enbridge is a Canadian-based oil transport giant that owns and operates Line 5 and over a dozen other pipelines across the US. The Midwest is no stranger to Enbridge as they are responsible for two of the largest oil spills in US history. Watch this informative video to learn more about Line 5 and how Enbridge’s Line 3 and Line 6B collectively spilled almost 3 million gallons of oil into and near our Midwest rivers.
Built Without Consent
Line 5 is situated in the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet. The Straits of Mackinac are a vital fishing ground for many, including the Anishinaabe people, who consider the area sacred. Enbridge was granted permission to construct the original Line 5 dual pipeline, despite potential risks that would impact all Michiganders. The construction directly ignored treaties the Anishinaabe people had in place prior to its approval.
Projects like Enbridge’s Line 5 and the proposed tunnel project tear at the fabric of Indigenous communities. They disrupt the deep bond between people and their land, eroding cultural traditions and weakening the social ties that hold communities together. This disruption doesn’t just harm the environment; it leaves Indigenous women and children more vulnerable to violence, stripping away the protections that strong, connected communities provide.
Man Camps
Projects like Line 5—built without Indigenous consent—reflect a broader pattern of ignoring Indigenous rights and voices. This disregard perpetuates cycles of harm, disproportionately impacting Indigenous women, who often bear the responsibility of caring for their families and communities. Pipeline infrastructure has been known to put them at greater risk of violence. The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children (MMIWC) is a stark reminder of the systemic neglect and marginalization Indigenous communities face.
The arrival of transient workers for pipeline construction, often housed in temporary “man camps,” has been linked to increased rates of sexual violence, trafficking, and disappearances of Indigenous women and girls. These camps, which accompany projects like Line 5, bring not just environmental harm but also a heightened threat to the safety of Indigenous women and children.
Not Just a Resource
At the heart of the climate crisis is a painful truth: the exploitation of Indigenous communities and their resources. This leads to the erasure of their cultures and the destruction of their direct environments. For Indigenous peoples, the land is not just a resource—it’s a source of life, identity, and spirituality. When corporations are allowed to prioritize profit over people, they disrespect these sacred connections and deepen the wounds of historical injustice.
By standing against Line 5 and supporting Indigenous sovereignty, we’re fighting for more than just the environment. We’re advocating for the safety, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous people everywhere. We’re calling for justice—for an end to the systemic injustices that perpetuate the crisis Indigenous people face and for a future where Indigenous communities can thrive on their own terms. Addressing these interconnected issues isn’t just about stopping a pipeline; it’s about healing, respect, and building a world where people and the planet come before profit.
Want a fun way to advocate for the protection of The Great Lakes and Anishinaabek fishing grounds? Join us as we Fish for the Future; where we attempt to break the world record for the most origami fish folded! Learn more about the campaign here:
Ask Governor Whitmer and EGLE to deny the reissue of the EGLE tunnel permit:
Want to learn more from the indigenous perspective? Stream BAD RIVER - An astounding feature documentary from the perspective of The Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who live with a 12-mile stretch of Line 5 eroding on their land and way of life. Stream the film on Peacock or visit the BAD RIVER website for more information:
Additional information on Line 5 & Enbridge
- MiCAN's recent event Line 5 Oil Tunnel: A False Solution for Michigan with Brian O'Mara and Andrea Pierce
- Learn about the impacts of pipeline infrastructure on MMIWC in this article by Pipeline Fighters Hub.
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We've known that the Line 5 tunnel does not serve the public's best interests, and this report from Institute for Energy, Economics, and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows that it doesn't serve Enbridge's best interest, either. Their review of testimony and documentation in proceedings on the matter, evaluations produced by stock and bond analysts, and information from other pertinent sources, concludes that:
- Enbridge's proposed tunnel project faces rising costs. Based on risks and construction inflation, the project may ultimately cost three or more times as much as initially estimated.
- Enbridge faces an expensive project to reroute Line 5’s Wisconsin segment, and ongoing litigation related to Line 5 in Michigan and Wisconsin could result in a shutdown.
- Enbridge should question whether it makes sense to keep sinking money into an old pipeline when markets for its products are on a declining trajectory.