Statement: Gov. Whitmer's bold action on Line 5 protects the Great Lakes

Line 5 will be shut down. That was the move Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made Friday against the oil pipeline that cuts through the Straits of Mackinac in the Great Lakes.

Gov. Whitmer sent a notice of violation, termination and revocation of the 1953 easement that made Line 5’s existence possible to Enbridge, its owner. She then submitted a court filing to force the termination.

Conan Smith, President and CEO of Michigan Environmental Council, released the following statement in support:

“Gov. Whitmer took bold and incredibly important action by revoking Enbridge’s Line 5 easement Friday. Her leadership will protect the Great Lakes and the more than 48 million residents in Michigan, Canada and the Midwest that depend on them for drinking water. We thank the Governor for her tireless work on behalf of all of us to keep water, ecosystems and people healthy.”