Michigan Supreme Court’s Line 5 Decision Upholds Great Lakes Protections

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Supreme Court's case no. 168335 ruling shows proper care, concern, and prudence to protect the Great Lakes from the dangerous and outdated Line 5 oil pipeline.

"The Michigan Supreme Court has affirmed what we knew all along: the Line 5 tunnel cannot bypass the scrutiny that our Great Lakes deserve," said Beth Wallace, Great Lakes climate and energy director for the National Wildlife Federation. "We are grateful to the court for upholding the rule of law, but we also need permanent reforms from Michigan's elected leaders to protect our wildlife, water, and region from corporate greed."

This win - the second permit the courts have sent back to the agencies for the pipeline - would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the Bay Mills Indian Community, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, Michigan residents, and conservation organizations like Earthjustice.

The Line 5 tunnel and dual pipelines running under the Great Lakes allow a Canadian company to transport more than half a million barrels of oil per day. Enbridge has a long track record of oil spills, leaks, accidents, explosions, and environmental damage. The Canadian company has paid more than $187 million in penalties and settlements for 58 environmental and business-practice violations. Its recent Line 5 "frac-outs" are just the latest. There have been 35 spills from its Line 5 pipeline, including 69,000 gallons spilled in Wisconsin in 2024 and the more than 1 million gallons of oil that gushed into the Kalamazoo River in 2010.