US Army Corps Advances Michigan Pipeline Project Amid Tribal Opposition
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit for Enbridge Energy to replace a 4-mile segment of the Line 5 pipeline in Michigan’s Straits of Mackinac with a tunnel, a move fast-tracked under a national energy emergency executive order. While the agency determined the project complied with the Clean Water Act and would reduce the risk of leaks, the decision faced immediate condemnation from tribal nations who argue the project ignores sacred cultural sites and treaty rights protected by the 1836 Treaty of Washington. The project involves transporting oil and natural gas liquids across a 645-mile path from Wisconsin through Michigan to Ontario, though the Army Corps acknowledged the construction would cause permanent adverse impacts to wetlands, vegetation, and cultural resources.
Consequences
Construction remains stalled due to ongoing legal and regulatory hurdles at the state level despite the federal permit approval. The approval of the project has deepened the conflict between federal regulators and tribal nations, who previously withdrew from discussions citing a disregard for tribal expertise and sovereignty.
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