Protecting the Great Lakes: MiCAN’s Fight Against Line 5
A ticking time bomb sits beneath the Great Lakes. One that threatens drinking water for 40 million people.
For a decade, the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN) has been on the frontlines, standing at the intersection of climate action, environmental justice, and the rights of Indigenous and frontline communities most impacted by the climate crisis. As a founding member of the Oil & Water Don’t Mix (OWDM) coalition, we’ve worked tirelessly to expose the climate impacts of the Line 5 tunnel, challenging Enbridge in court, and mobilizing communities across Michigan.
We refuse to let Michigan become a sacrifice zone for corporate profit. Together with our partners and communities, we are leading the charge for clean water, a livable climate, and a just future, because the risks of Line 5 are not just environmental but personal. They impact our homes, our families, and future generations. We believe in a future where the Great Lakes remain pristine, where Indigenous sovereignty is honored, and where corporate greed no longer dictates our energy choices. Every action you take helps us move closer to that vision. Join us in this fight—because Michigan deserves better than Line 5.
URGENT ACTION
The "energy emergency" executive order will bypass environmental regulations meant to keep our climate and Great Lakes safe. Call Gov. Whitmer and EGLE Director Roos and tell them: No Tunnel Permit - and at least conduct a full environmental review.
Take Action: Fish for the Future
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! This campaign brings together Michiganders and our allies in Wisconsin to raise awareness, build community, and demand action against Line 5.
Line 5: Far From a Great Placement
Every day, nearly 23 million gallons of oil flow through two aging pipelines in the heart of the Great Lakes, known as Line 5. Operating 21 years past its expected lifespan, this 645-mile pipeline runs from Alberta, Canada, to Sarnia, Ontario, cutting through Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Straits of Mackinac, where Line 5 runs 4.5 miles along the lakebed, is one of the worst possible places for an oil spill. The fast currents and extreme weather make cleanup nearly impossible. A spill could contaminate over 700 miles of shoreline, devastating ecosystems and treaty-protected fisheries. Federal agencies, including the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Coast Guard have warned that existing resources are insufficient to contain a spill in the Straits.
Enbridge’s History of Oil Spills
Enbridge, the Canadian-based oil transport giant that owns Line 5, has a long record of environmental disasters. Its Line 3 and Line 6B pipelines caused two of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history, releasing nearly 3 million gallons of oil into Midwest waterways.
Additionally, about one-third of the oil transported through Line 5 is refined at the Detroit Marathon Refinery, located in 48217, one of the most polluted zip codes in the country. This predominantly Black community has asthma rates 46% higher than the state average, with frequent air quality violations linked to increased cancer and respiratory diseases. Expanding fossil fuel infrastructure will only worsen these environmental injustices.
Watch this informative video to learn more about Enbridge’s spills and their devastating impacts.
MiCAN’s Work: Exposing Enbridge's Climate Impact
MiCAN has been on the frontlines:
- Leading legal challenges against Enbridge’s tunnel permit alongside tribal nations and environmental groups.
- Mobilizing thousands of Michiganders to submit public comments, sign petitions, and pressure lawmakers.
- Fighting for climate justice, ensuring the voices of impacted communities, especially Indigenous nations and frontline Black and brown communities, are heard.
The Climate Cost of Line 5
- The tunnel project will lead to a net increase of 27 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually.
- Michigan has committed to 100% clean energy by 2040—yet new fossil fuel infrastructure directly contradicts these commitments.
- This report from the Institute for Energy, Economics, and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) shows that the Line 5 tunnel is not even in Enbridge’s financial interest.
The Legal Battle
Michigan’s Fight Against Line 5
- 2019: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit to shut down Line 5 after serious damage to an anchor support was discovered. After six years of legal delays by Enbridge, the case is back in state court. Read more.
- 2020: Governor Gretchen Whitmer revoked Enbridge’s easement and ordered the shutdown of Line 5 due to its threat to the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for over 40 million people. Enbridge continues to operate Line 5 in violation of this order.
- March 18, 2025: The 6th Circuit Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Enbridge v. Whitmer. You can access the recording here.
Permits vs. Protection: The Legal Frontline
Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC)
- December 2023: MPSC approved Enbridge’s tunnel project, despite overwhelming public opposition.MiCAN and environmental groups challenged the decision in the Michigan Court of Appeals.
- January 2025: The court denied the appeal, but the fight is not over. Watch the Press Conference and MCOA Oral Arguments.
- February 2025: MiCAN delivered an appeal letter with signatures from 1057 individuals and 49 organizations & businesses to Governor Whitmer.
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
- 2021: EGLE granted a permit for the tunnel, which was challenged by the Bay Mills Indian Community.
- 2025 Update: Enbridge has re-applied for a wetlands permit. Public comment is expected to open Spring 2025. Stay updated on how to make your voice heard.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
- The federal review of the tunnel’s environmental and cultural impacts is ongoing.
- A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be available for public comment in Summer 2025. We will keep you updated on how you can make your voice heard!
Michigan Supreme Court
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March 2025: MiCAN, alongside Tribal Nations and environmental partners, has officially petitioned the Michigan Supreme Court to review the Court of Appeals' decision to uphold Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel permit. The permitting process fundamentally failed to address critical risks such as the threat of oil spills, climate consequences, and the violation of Tribal sovereignty.
This case challenges the Michigan Public Service Commission’s failure to uphold the Michigan Environmental Protection Act and the public trust doctrine, which requires the state to safeguard natural resources for the benefit of all. This is a defining moment in our legal strategy to protect the Great Lakes, our climate, and our collective future. You can read the full filing brief here.
Indigenous Sovereignty & Enbridge’s Expansion Plans
For generations, Indigenous communities have fought to protect their lands and waters from corporate exploitation. Line 5 is yet another example of fossil fuel infrastructure violating Indigenous sovereignty and threatening cultural traditions.
- Built Without Consent: In 1953, Michigan granted Enbridge an easement to build Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac, violating existing Anishinaabe treaties and threatening a sacred fishing ground.
- Trespassing on Tribal Land: As Line 5 snakes through Wisconsin, it crosses the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa’s land. The tribe has rejected the pipeline and is suing Enbridge for trespassing in a federal lawsuit.
- Man Camps & Violence Against Indigenous Women: Temporary “man camps” built near pipeline projects have been linked to increased rates of sexual violence, trafficking, and disappearances of Indigenous women and children.
- Enbridge’s Expansion Plans: Instead of shutting it down, Enbridge is seeking a reroute in Wisconsin and an underground oil tunnel in Michigan, prolonging the risks for up to 99 more years.
Not Just a Resource
For Indigenous communities, land is more than just a resource. It is life, identity, and spirituality. The Line 5 pipeline and proposed tunnel not only threaten the Great Lakes but also deepen historical injustices.
Learn More: You can go here to learn more about the impact on Indigenous communities. You can also watch the documentary “Bad River,” which highlights how the Bad River Band is fighting Line 5. Stream on Peacock or visit the website here.