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EXPERTS ADVISORY
The destiny of the Line 5 pipeline, which transports over 500,000 barrels of oil and natural gas liquids daily between Wisconsin and Canada, is at yet another pivotal moment in its more than 70-year timeline.
On May 30, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is anticipated to unveil its environmental evaluation of a controversial proposal to conceal a segment of Line 5 in a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
Numerous experts from the University of Michigan are ready to provide insights regarding Line 5’s background, legal status, and potential environmental implications as the situation unfolds. Comprehensive Q&As with each specialist can be accessed at the links provided below.
Andrew Buchsbaum serves as a lecturer at the Law School and is a specialist in Great Lakes and environmental legislation. Prior to joining U-M, he held leadership positions with the National Wildlife Federation, co-founded the Healing Our Waters coalition, and practiced law at the National Environmental Law Center.
“Overall, the evaluation of the practicality, viability, and risks associated with constructing the tunnel has thus far been lacking. It’s been inadequate,” Buchsbaum commented. “The federal government is content to delegate to the state of Michigan all the strenuous work regarding whether this will function. It signals that the federal government is treating the Great Lakes as a testing ground. If you lack the necessary data and proceed, you’re essentially stating, ‘We’re uncertain if this will succeed; let’s find out.’
“The ramifications of a failure would be disastrous for the Great Lakes, for Michigan, for the surrounding area, and for the 40 million individuals who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water and their way of life.”
Q&A: Andrew Buchsbaum: Line 5 and its risks
Contact: [email protected]
Julia Cole is an authority on climate issues and serves as a professor and chair of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences.
“We need to halve our consumption within an alarming five years to remain under the global consensus of 1.5 degrees Celsius warming. Yet, we are discussing investing in fossil fuel infrastructure which will span decades,” Cole remarked.
“People frequently underestimate how a seemingly minor amount of warming can significantly impact their daily lives. As we begin to consider warming of even one or two degrees, we’re discussing alterations in areas such as the dispersion of infectious diseases. We’re also discussing locations where securing insurance for your residence becomes impossible due to wildfires, rising sea levels, and storms that are displacing homeowners in unprecedented numbers. Climate change is already present, and we are living through it now.”
Q&A: Julia Cole: Line 5 and climate change
Contact: [email protected]
Matthew Fletcher is a professor at the Law School and has previously worked as a legal advisor for four tribes: the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Suquamish Tribe, and the Grand Traverse Band. As a member of the Grand Traverse Band, Fletcher currently serves as the chief justice for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
“The implications of a significant oil leak in the Straits of Mackinac would be utterly catastrophic,” Fletcher stated. “It poses an existential threat to tribes. Therefore, this concerns the preservation of entire communities and nations. Tribes consistently advocate for environmental causes, putting them at odds with entrenched interests. This is a Canadian corporation utilizing America as a contaminated transport hub without providing any benefits in return. If we seek energy independence in the U.S., this initiative offers virtually no assistance.
“Everyone utilizes the Straits of Mackinac, everyone benefits from the inland waterways, and everyone breathes the air. Tribes are the only governmental bodies in the state of Michigan, across the Great Lakes, that advocate for the public good. They are doing this for everyone.”
Q&A: Matthew Fletcher: Line 5 and American Indian law
Contact: [email protected]
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Mike Shriberg is an academic focusing on practice and engagement at the School for Environment and Sustainability and acts as the associate director of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research. Prior to his tenure at U-M, he held the position of regional executive director for the Great Lakes at the National Wildlife Federation and participated in former Governor Snyder’s Pipeline Safety Advisory Board. Together with U-M students, Shriberg developed an educational case regarding the Line 5 dispute, which is freely accessible online.
“Line 5 represents more than just a standalone issue; it signifies who has the authority to access our natural resources and waterways, which is immensely significant, extending far beyond the particulars of this topic,” Shriberg remarked.
“When I reflect on Line 5, I consider what the broader dispute symbolizes across various dimensions. One critical aspect is Indigenous rights. Every tribal government in Michigan opposes the ongoing operation of Line 5. Some tribes have even expelled Enbridge from their reservations and tribal territories. This matter is of great importance to tribal governments, and the persistence of Line 5—the construction of a pipeline—would prioritize corporate rights over Indigenous rights.
“Moreover, the state of Michigan nullified Line 5’s easement for operation. Gov. Whitmer took this action in 2021. Michigan declared that Enbridge no longer possesses the right to operate in the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge has essentially countered, saying, ‘We do not acknowledge the state’s authority on this matter.’ This raises substantial concerns regarding states’ rights and Michigan’s ability to safeguard the Great Lakes. It’s difficult to envision stakes being higher.”
Q&A: Mike Shriberg: Line 5 and its narrative in Michigan
Contact: [email protected]