Michigan regulators approved permits for Enbridge’s Great Lakes Tunnel Project to replace the Line 5 oil pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Department of Natural Resources issued the approvals.
State officials concluded the project's necessity outweighs potential environmental and cultural impacts. The decision allows Enbridge to mitigate spill risks from twin pipelines currently resting on the lakebed. These existing underwater pipes are 73 years old.
Tribal nations and environmental groups continue to oppose the project over Great Lakes safety and treaty rights. Enbridge still requires final approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before construction can begin.