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Sign this petition to urge President Biden to act to protect the Great Lakes and climate from America's Most Dangerous Pipeline
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It's time for President Biden to revoke the presidential pipeline permit and shut down the Enbridge Line 5 crude oil pipeline. An oil spill from this unnecessary pipeline in the Great Lakes threatens the drinking water of 40 million people. If it ever gets built, an oil tunnel in 10 years is not a solution to this urgent threat. He must act now to protect the Great Lakes from Enbridge's damaged, dangerous, old pipelines. Enbridge experts testified, and other independent reports attest that a pipeline shutdown would have little impact on energy prices.
Oil & Water Don't Mix is a respected coalition of citizens and non-profit environmental groups working to protect the Great Lakes and climate from the Enbridge Line 5 crude oil pipeline. This petition will only share your name and state with the White House. We'll update you with infrequent emails - you can always opt out later. Your information is safe with us.
Dear President Biden,
I strongly urge you to take the following actions regarding the ongoing dispute over Enbridge Energy’s outdated and dangerous Line 5 pipeline, which threatens our Great Lakes and climate:
- Revoke the presidential permit for the Line 5 pipeline - the presidential permit is predicated upon Enbridge’s compliance with their easement agreement with Michigan. Enbridge violated that easement from 1968 until Governor Whitmer revoked it in 2020.
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- File supportive briefs in the appropriate court of jurisdiction, making it clear that Michigan has the authority to revoke the Line 5 easement and shut down the pipeline.
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Prevent improper use of the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty with Canada - Canadian attempts to keep Line 5 operating by invoking the 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.
- Follow the global commitment of COP28 to begin transitioning away from fossil fuels. Future generations are counting on you.
This administration must protect our water and start taking action on climate change. Please take these actions today.
Oil & Water Don't Mix is a respected coalition of citizens and non-profit environmental groups that have been working to protect the Great Lakes and climate from the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline. This petition will only share your name and state with the White House. We'll keep you up to date with infrequent emails - you can always opt-out later. Your information is safe with us.
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The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (as well as the majority of the other federally recognized tribes of Michigan) has passed an official resolution (Resolution 2021-38) denouncing pipeline operations in the Straits of Mackinac and calling for a safe and thorough decommissioning of the pipeline—the full text of which I will put at the bottom of this message.
Your constitution of the United States describes treaties as such: “all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby.”
By all measurements of merit, logistically, environmentally, morally, legally, and ethically, you are called upon to uphold the past by upholding treaty law and secure the future for all in the Great Lakes region by working to decommission Line 5 in the Straits of Mackinac.
Mii iw. Chi-miigwech.
Thank you very much.
Full Text of Resolution 2021-38 from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians:
" To Protect the Straits of Mackinac as a Traditional Cultural Property Site WHEREAS, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Sault Tribe) is a federally recognized tribe and invested with inherent sovereignty and right to self-governance;
and WHEREAS, the Sault Tribe is signatory to the 1836 Treaty of Washington which ceded the use of land that allowed for the formation of the State of Michigan;
and WHEREAS, the 1836 Treaty of Washington reserved usufructuary rights in perpetuity, such rights to include hunting and gathering and the rights of usual occupancy, to the native peoples signatory to the treaty;
and WHEREAS the Tribal Board of the Sault Tribe is in support of the Sault Tribe’s Language and Cultural Department and Environmental Department compiling preliminary research that will be used to support the protection of tribal cultural, historical, and natural resources;
and WHEREAS the Enbridge Line 5 twin pipelines and its proposed tunnel lie within the terrestrial and submerged bottomlands of the Straits of Mackinac;
and WHEREAS the Sault Tribe never ceded control of the lakes or lake bottomlands to any other government entity in the Treaty of Washington or any other treaty of cession;
and WHEREAS the Straits of Mackinac, including the waters, the terrestrial ecosystems adjacent to the waters, and the submerged bottomlands, as the heart of Turtle Island in the middle of the Great Lakes, has significant culture, history, and identity to the Sault Tribe;
and WHEREAS the Sault Tribe Board of Directors supports the designation of the Straits of Mackinac and its submerged bottomlands as a “Traditional Cultural Property” site with significant culture,
history, and identity,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians does hereby, as follows:
1) Direct the Sault Tribe Language and Cultural Department and Environmental Department to compile preliminary research for the area around the Enbridge Line 5 twin pipelines and the proposed tunnel project in order to protect the traditional cultural and historic resources of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and further
2) Direct the Sault Tribe Language and Cultural Department and Environmental Department to submit the information to the US Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies for formal designation as a Traditional Cultural Property site.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairperson and Treasurer, are authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to carry out the intent of this resolution.
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
We, the undersigned, as Chairperson and Secretary of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, hereby certify that the Board of Directors is composed of 13 members, of whom __13___ members constituting a quorum were present at a meeting thereof duly called, noticed, convened, and held on the _2nd____ day of _February_____________ 2021; that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at said meeting by an affirmative vote of _12____ members for, ___0__ members against, _0____ members abstaining, and that said resolution has not been rescinded or amended in any way."