LANSING, Mich. – The National Wildlife Federation released the following statement today after the Michigan Senate Natural Resources Committee and Senate Energy and Technology Committee heard from Canadian officials regarding continued operation of Enbridge Energy’s Line 5 oil pipeline. 

“Time and time again, Canada has refused to build pipelines on their land due to environmental risks, yet they come before the Michigan Senate demanding our state shoulder the risk of keeping this nearly 70-year-old pipeline pumping oil through the Great Lakes,” said Mike Shriberg, Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. “Michigan Republicans seem more interested in lobbing attacks at Governor Whitmer instead of holding this foreign oil company accountable. If they had the interests of the people of Michigan in mind, they would recognize the debate about Line 5 is over – Enbridge must shut down the pipeline in May or they are breaking the law.”