ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Enbridge Energy announced today that they will not comply with the State of Michigan’s order to shut down the flow of oil through the twin Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac by May 2021. The state of Michigan revoked Enbridge’s easement permitting the pipeline due to multiple incurable violations and a lack of due care in its operation.

“This is a desperate move by Enbridge Energy to keep its dangerous pipeline posing an unacceptable risk to the Great Lakes and the communities, jobs, drinking water, and wildlife dependent on them," said Mike Shriberg, Great Lakes Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation. "Enbridge knows it has a weak case because it relies on trying to take away Michigan’s ability to protect its own waters. Enbridge has repeatedly violated its easement and cannot operate Line 5 with due care and under the public trust. Enbridge has no way to cure these illegal actions other than shutting down the Straits portion of Line 5, as the Governor and Attorney General have asserted. Enbridge’s threat to defy the Governor and the law only reinforces that they cannot be trusted with the Great Lakes.”