[REVISION HISTORY]

Enbridge Line 5 pipeline controversy

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-30 23:10 UTC → 2026-08-01 17:34 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid‑July 2026 Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy approved two permits for Enbridge’s proposed tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, despite objections from environmental groups and tribal advocates who cited state and ~~public trust~~ public‑trust laws. The approvals were seen as a setback to state climate goals and triggered pending legal challenges, including a potential appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court and the need for additional federal permits. Two weeks later, a the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Enbridge had trespassed on the Bad River Reservation, affirming a $5.15 million restitution order and directing the company to reroute the pipeline off tribal land. The court extended the ~~deadline for the reroute,~~ reroute deadline, warned that delays could affect energy consumers, and noted that the decision does not constitute approval of Enbridge’s actions. On July 30, the 7th Circuit ordered Enbridge to implement the reroute and to recalculate damages beyond the earlier restitution figure, while declining to find a nuisance claim under federal preemption. In a separate state‑level decision, the Michigan Supreme Court overturned the tunnel permits, sending the project back to the Public Service Commission for a more thorough environmental and public‑trust analysis. The rulings were hailed by tribal nations and environmental groups as victories in the effort to protect the Great Lakes.

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