U.S. Army Corps approves Line 5 pipeline tunnel permit

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a permit for Enbridge to construct a four-mile tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The project is intended to house the Line 5 oil and natural gas pipeline, which transports resources from Western Canada to the U.S. Midwest and Sarnia, Ontario.

The approval follows a recent decision by the Michigan Supreme Court, which struck down a previous permit and ordered the Michigan Public Service Commission to conduct a more comprehensive analysis of environmental and public trust impacts.

Native American rights groups and several Michigan Tribes have criticized the decision. Advocates argue the project threatens sacred Anishinaabe spaces and could lead to permanent damage to the Great Lakes through potential leaks or construction impacts. Despite the federal approval, Enbridge still requires a permit from the Michigan Public Service Commission to proceed with construction.