US Supreme Court Supports Michigan's Effort to Close Aging Pipeline, Impacting Great Lakes Safety
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Michigan, allowing the state's lawsuit to shut down a section of the aging Line 5 pipeline beneath a Great Lakes channel to remain in state court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for a unanimous court, stated that Enbridge, the energy company operating the pipeline, delayed too long in attempting to move the case to federal court. The pipeline, which has been operational since 1953, transports crude oil and natural gas liquids between Wisconsin and Ontario. Concerns about potential environmental hazards have been mounting, particularly after a 2018 incident where a boat anchor damaged the pipeline. Michigan's Attorney General Dana Nessel initiated the lawsuit in 2019, seeking to void the easement that permits the pipeline's operation under the straits of Mackinac. Despite a restraining order in 2020, Enbridge continued operations after meeting safety requirements. The company is also pursuing permits to encase the pipeline in a protective tunnel, a move opposed...