Michigan Approved A Tunnel For Line 5 And Tribal Leaders Are Not Happy

Michigan has decided to make a bold and risky move as the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has approved a construction permit for the construction of a tunnel to replace a section of the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.

This decision has been viewed as highly controversial, as construction would severely impact rare plants and animals in the area, and although the Department of Natural Resources acknowledged that, they still issued a permit to Enbridge.

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Although there shouldn’t be any destruction to wetlands or forests, according to Grist, there are people in the state who see this is terrible news.

Sault Tribe Chairman Austin Lowes gave a comment expressing his disappointment in the decision to follow through with this high-risk move:

Today’s decision by the State of Michigan is incredibly disheartening and fails Tribal communities and all those that value our Great Lakes. Since time immemorial, the Straits of Mackinac have been sacred to Tribal Nations across the region. The Sault Tribe, along with our partners, is deeply disappointed by EGLE and the DNR’s decisions to approve permits for Enbridge. The Straits, and all the Great Lakes deserve the highest level of protection from the State of Michigan.

 

As we face forest fire smoke from Canada and Minnesota, a parasite from produce, growing data centers against the people's wishes and votes, as they continue, this news  paints a grim scenario that could bring serious harm to the Great Lakes:

The decision to allow Enbridge to industrialize this sacred place demonstrates a disregard for our environment, our treaty rights, and Tribal sovereignty.