News

MICHIGAN - In response to the news that the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled against Enbridge Energy, in which a lawsuit from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to shut down the company’s dangerous, aging pipeline belongs in state court rather than federal court, Sean McBrearty, Oil & Water Don’t Mix campaign coordinator, issued the following statement:

“This is a clear and pivotal win generated by the movement to shut down Line 5, and the tenacious defense of our Great Lakes exhibited by Attorney General Nessel. Enbridge failed to honor the 30-day deadline to remove this case from state to federal court, and we applaud this ruling that upholds the fact that huge multinational oil companies are not above the law.

“Now, this case will head back to state court, where it belongs. Thanks to Michigan’s attorney general, we are closer than ever to taking down a foreign fossil fuel giant that is putting 84 percent of North America’s available, fresh surface water at risk each day that Line 5 continues operating past its expiration date.

“This is the best possible news to have on Earth Day. Tribal nations, environmental and health advocates, business, and others from across the political divide have been voicing the same demand for years now: shut down Line 5, America’s Most Dangerous Pipeline. It’s up to us as residents of the Great Lakes to stand together to protect our health, communities, and environment as freshwater people.”