The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted Enbridge a federal permit for its four-mile tunnel project. The tunnel will house the Line 5 pipeline beneath Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac. This approval represents the final federal requirement for the infrastructure project.
The plan aims to replace existing 73-year-old dual pipelines currently located on the lakebed. However, the Michigan Supreme Court vacated a state permit for the project in late July. State officials must now conduct a more thorough environmental review.
Environmental groups and tribal nations continue to oppose the project. These groups cite potential oil spill risks in the Great Lakes as a primary concern.