US Army Corps of Engineers Approves Line 5 Tunnel Project Amid Legal Challenges
The US Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit for the construction of the Line 5 tunnel project in the Straits of Mackinac, a controversial initiative by Enbridge Energy. The project aims to reroute a section of the Line 5 petroleum pipeline into a concrete tunnel beneath the lakebed, which the Corps deemed 'not contrary to the public interest.' Despite this federal approval, the project faces significant legal hurdles, including a recent Michigan Supreme Court order for state regulators to reconsider a key permit. Opponents, including Native American tribes, have promised new lawsuits, citing potential harm to endangered species and archaeological sites.