U.S. Appeals Court Orders Enbridge to Reroute Line 5 Pipeline on Bad River Reservation
The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Enbridge Inc. is liable for trespassing on the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ land. The court ordered the company to reroute the Line 5 oil pipeline, which was built in 1953 and carries up to 540,000 barrels per day, and to recalculate damages beyond the $5.15 million restitution previously ordered. Enbridge was given additional time to complete the reroute, and the court refused to hold the company liable for nuisance, citing federal preemption.
Separately, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned a state permit that would have allowed Enbridge to bury a segment of Line 5 in a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The court sent the case back to the Michigan Public Service Commission, finding that regulators had failed to consider the project’s environmental impacts and the public‑trust doctrine, and had not adequately assessed alternatives. The decision was hailed as a victory for tribal nations and environmental groups seeking to protect the Great Lakes.
Entities: 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals · Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians · Enbridge Inc. · Judge Michael Scudder · Line 5 pipeline · Michigan Supreme Court · U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals · U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The Line 5 pipeline, built in 1953, can transport up to 540,000 barrels of oil per day. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Judge Michael Scudder authored the appellate opinion ordering the reroute. (judge author)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The court ordered Enbridge to reroute the Line 5 pipeline away from the Bad River Reservation. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The appeals court refused to hold Enbridge liable for nuisance, citing federal preemption. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 12 miles (19 km) of Line 5 run under the Bad River Reservation. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The court ordered a recalculation of damages beyond the original $5.15 million restitution. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found Enbridge liable for trespass on Bad River Band land. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The court gave Enbridge additional time to complete the reroute of Line 5. (existing)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The three‑year deadline for removing the pipeline had expired and was deemed too aggressive by the appeals court. (Court opinion)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The appeals court refused to hold Enbridge liable for nuisance, citing federal law preemption. (Court opinion)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The court ordered Enbridge to reroute the Line 5 pipeline off the Bad River Reservation. (U.S. appeals court decision)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The appeals court granted Enbridge additional time to complete the reroute and ordered a recalculation of damages. (U.S. appeals court decision)