Line 5, the ticking time bomb in our Great Lakes, is almost 30 years past its expected lifetime and continues to be the single greatest threat to our Great Lakes.
The fight to shut down Line 5 has been a long one, but last year we saw big progress. In June 2023, a Wisconsin judge ruled that Enbridge Energy had been trespassing on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas’ land, which a portion of Line 5 runs through in Wisconsin. The land where the pipeline runs poses significant environmental risks due to erosion, exposing the pipeline in multiple areas and increasing the risk of a rupture.
The judge ordered Enbridge to either re-route its pipeline or shut it down entirely within three years. Thanks to the Bad River Band’s tireless advocacy, we have a potential shutdown date for Line 5!
The Department of Justice, however, issued a brief on the case after Enbridge appealed the ruling. While the Department of Justice agreed Enbridge has been trespassing and must pay more damages to the Bad River Band, the brief did not take a firm position on whether Line 5 should be shut down for good. Now is the time to make it clear to the Biden administration that we cannot afford to continue allowing Enbridge to pump oil through our Great Lakes.
Send a message to President Biden to support the Bad River Band’s rights and shut down Line 5 once and for all.