Overview
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued an individual permit and published a Record of Decision for Enbridge’s roughly 3.6–4 mile Line 5 tunnel on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, authorizing regulated work under the Straits of Mackinac.
- USACE said its review satisfied obligations under NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and federal Tribal trust responsibilities.
- The federal permit authorizes work in waters regulated by the government but does not govern the pipeline’s design, operation, or the substances the pipeline would carry.
- The Michigan Supreme Court recently found state regulators did not fully evaluate environmental impacts and ordered further state review, which together with a pending Michigan Public Service Commission reassessment keeps construction on hold.
- Tribal nations and environmental groups have already signaled or filed legal challenges and say the tunnel risks wetlands, species, and culturally sensitive sites, so continued litigation and state action will determine the project’s practical path forward.