Protect the Great Lakes: Shut Down Line 5

There's been a decades-long fight led by Tribes and communities in the Great Lakes region against a pipeline called Line 5, which is owned by Enbridge Energy. Line 5 endangers the Great Lakes and countless ecosystems, watersheds, and communities.

Ask your legislators to take swift action to end the daily threat of this 70-year-old crude oil pipeline that runs through the heart of the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes communities have worked together several times to shut down Line 5. In 2017, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa resolved not to renew Enbridge's easement to operate on their land. Three years later, in 2020, Governor Whitmer of Michigan withdrew Enbridge's right to operate in the Straits of Mackinac and ordered the shutdown of Line 5. This shutdown deadline was ordered by May 2021, but Enbridge continues to illegally operate.

Send your message to your representative and senators: Tell them to listen to the Great Lakes communities and shut down Line 5 for good. Make sure to let him know why you think this pipeline must be closed down.

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Proteja los Grandes Lagos: Detenga la Línea 5 Las tribus y comunidades de la región de los Grandes Lagos llevan décadas luchando contra un oleoducto llamado Línea 5, propiedad de Enbridge Energy. La Línea 5 pone en peligro los Grandes Lagos e innumerables ecosistemas, cuencas hidrográficas y comunidades.

Pida a sus legisladores que actúen con rapidez para poner fin a la amenaza diaria de este oleoducto de crudo de 70 años de antigüedad que atraviesa el corazón de los Grandes Lagos.

Las comunidades de los Grandes Lagos han trabajado en forma conjunta en varias ocasiones para cerrar la Línea 5. En 2017, la Bad River Band de la tribu del lago Superior de los Chippewa decidió no renovar la servidumbre de Enbridge para operar en sus tierras. Tres años después, en 2020, la gobernadora Whitmer de Michigan quitó a Enbridge el derecho de operar en los estrechos de Mackinac y ordenó el cierre de la Línea 5. El plazo de cierre se fijó para mayo de 2021, pero Enbridge continúa operando de manera ilegal.

Envíe su mensaje a su representante y sus senadores: pídales que escuchen a las comunidades de los Grandes Lagos y cierren definitivamente la Línea 5. Asegúrese de hacerles saber por qué cree que este oleoducto debe cerrarse.

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Shut-Down Line 5

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Line 5, the 70 year old oil pipeline which runs under the Great Lakes, threatens Great Lakes drinking water, eco-systems, and communities. I strongly urge you to take all necessary action to decommission the Enbridge Line 5 crude oil pipeline. Enbridge violated the agreement with Michigan to use the Great Lakes, so Governor Whitmer revoked the easement. Enbridge is also trespassing on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation territory. Its irresponsible conduct has created an ever-present danger to the Great Lakes waters. As an elected official in the Great Lakes region, I ask that you urge President Biden to revoke the presidential permit allowing Enbridge to operate Line 5 and order the Department of Justice to intervene on Michigan’s behalf in the ongoing lawsuits between Michigan and Enbridge. Canadian attempts to keep Line 5 operating by invoking the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty are ill-founded and disingenuous. The 4th article of the treaty allows the exact kind of conduct to protect the environment and public trust resources pursued by Governor Whitmer and the Bad River Band. Further, the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 and various treaties between the United States and Sovereign Tribal Nations predate and contradict the 1977 treaty. Other transport methods for the products currently transported through Line 5 already exist, and increasing investments in green energy make this outdated pipeline more unnecessary with each passing day. Please do the right thing for the Great Lakes while fulfilling your promise to fight climate change by ordering the Line 5 pipeline to be decommissioned today.

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