Protect the Great Lakes from oil and gas

Line 5

By Michelle Woodhouse, Program Manager for Water at Environmental Defence

Did you know, a 68-year-old pipeline lies in the heart of the Great Lakes?

Line 5 carries 87 million litres of oil and gas per day through the Straits of Mackinac— a six km wide connection between Lakes Michigan and Huron.

If Line 5 ruptures, it’s projected to contaminate up to 1200 km of Great Lakes shoreline in the U.S. and Canada with oil. Its continued operation is a major threat to the waters, lands, and way of life for Indigenous peoples of the area and the drinking water of millions of U.S and Canadian residents.

The risk of a spill is high and would be devastating.

According to a study by the University of Michigan, a worst-case oil spill from Line 5 into the Straits would cost a minimum of $1.3 billion in economic damages. In the past three years alone, Line 5 has been struck and damaged by anchors, its structure has required several repairs and the corrosion coating has crumbled and fallen off in multiple places.

We must stand together to protect the Great Lakes.

The Anishinabek Nation which represents 39 First Nations communities in Ontario has come forward in support of the closure of Line 5, as have all 12 U.S. Federally Recognized Tribes in Michigan. Standing with Indigenous peoples to protect all that is sacred to life includes standing in solidarity with sovereign Indigenous nations that are calling for a Line 5 shutdown to protect the Great Lakes.

Take action today and tell the federal government to support the closure of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline and protect the Great Lakes.