Protect Great Lakes Wildlife from an Oil Spill: President Biden Support the Orderly Shutdown of Line 5

Lying beneath the surface of the Great Lakes, the Line 5 pipeline threatens our Great Lakes, our water, our communities, and our way of life.

Enbridge’s Line 5 has a long history of violations, continues to be damaged by anchors and carries up to 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids through the Straits of Mackinac each day. A large oil spill would have a devastating impact on shoreline habitat, endangered species like the piping plover, and the Great Lakes tourism and outdoor recreation economy. Michigan’s Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, has terminated Enbridge’s easement to operate Line 5 in the Straits to protect our Great Lakes, but Enbridge continues to operate this 70-year-old pipeline illegally.

Call on President Biden to support Michigan’s right and duty to protect the Great Lakes.

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Enbridge Energy's nearly 70-year-old Line 5 pipeline has leaked at least 33 times, spilling over 1 million gallons on land, and carries up to 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids from Canada back to Canada, using the Great Lakes as a shortcut. Enbridge has disclosed that Line 5 has sustained anchor damage, the required protective coating continues to fail and Enbridge continues to ignore Michigan’s spill insurance requirements. Governor Whitmer has a duty to protect citizens and the Great Lakes. President Biden, you have the duty to protect and uphold state rights. I urge you to support the orderly shutdown of Line 5 and to block every attempt by Enbridge to strip states of their right to protect land and water. This can’t wait.

A conservative report released by the state, and funded by Enbridge, estimates that the worst case scenario for a Line 5 rupture in the Straits puts 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 60,000 acres of unique wildlife habitat, 47 species of conservation concern, drinking water, and $1.8 billion in economic activity at risk. A Line 5 leak or rupture could also devastate the $65 billion Great Lakes economy, which supports 1 in 5 Michigan jobs. Businesses would suffer, and many could likely close permanently, if Line 5 leaked. It doesn't have to be this way. Numerus independent expert reports show there are alternatives to Line 5 and with an orderly shutdown, there will be little to no noticeable impacts in the United States or Canada. Line 5 will shut down, either through rupture or court order. We can’t allow Enbridge to run this pipeline to failure – too much is at risk for a pipeline that should have never been placed in this location.

Please use your authority to uphold state rights and back the orderly shutdown of Line 5 to protect our Great Lakes, economy and ensure energy security.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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