A Wisconsin judge recently paused Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute work at four waterway crossings pending further permits. Meanwhile, Michigan’s legal fight to shut down the Straits segment remains ongoing.
MICHIGAN—There have been a number of recent developments in the Line 5 pipeline controversy. Line 5 is a pipeline that carries Canadian crude products south from Alberta, across the Mackinac Straits along the lakebed, and down to the refineries in Sarnia. The pipeline, owned and operated by Canadian fuel company giant Enbridge, is responsible for transporting the base materials for much of the propane and jet fuel used by Ontario airports.
A recent court decision regarding the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline re-route in Northern Wisconsin has resulted in a partial halt to construction. A Bayfield County judge paused work at four specific waterway crossings where Enbridge requires additional state permits, while largely allowing the 41-mile pipeline replacement project to proceed.
The current status of the broader Line 5 dispute is defined by ongoing legal battles and regulatory reviews across the United States and Canada. In the Wisconsin Reroute, this past February, an administrative judge upheld the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permits for the 41-mile reroute around the Bad River Reservation. However, the recent May partial stay temporarily halted the company from crossing four specific waterways until proper erosion and waterway permits are officially approved.
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