Anishinaabek Caucus Lauds Nessel Honoring Campaign Promise, Urges Michigan Gov. Whitmer to Follow Suit: “Shut Down Line 5”

Andrea Pierce, Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians and Chair of Anishinaabek Caucus of MDP, at Governor Whitmer’s inauguration, January 2019.

Published June 29, 2019

YPSILANTI, Mich. — The Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party urges Governor Gretchen Whitmer to join the Attorney General’s lawsuit against Enbridge Inc. Enbridge’s continued exploratory work for the tunnel and operation of Line 5 are in violation of the Treaty rights of federally recognized tribes of Michigan. Read Position Statement circulated in May.

Caucus members stand with Nessel. Whitmer’s and Nessel’s campaign promises mobilized Tribal participation in Michigan’s democratic process.

An oil spill in the Great Lakes would be absolutely devastating to our environment and our economy. We can’t afford to sit around and wait for disaster to strike, we need…to stop making excuses and announce an immediate plan to shut down Line 5. Enough is enough. (gretchenwhitmer.com/issues/environment/)

As long as Line 5 operates, Michigan’s waters, wildlife, and people remain at risk. The report, “Independent Risk Analysis for the Straits Pipelines” (September 15, 2018), reveals that 2.4 M gallons of crude would damage 60,000 acres of unique habitat affecting businesses, personal property, and municipal water supplies. Since 1968 there has been more than 1.1M gallons of crude spilled from Line 5 inland, hence acknowledgement of a Line 5 spill in the Straits is real. Degradation of supports, mussel encrustation, deformities of the pipe, and an anchor strike have been reported.

Line 5 is not critical to providing propane to residents and businesses of the Upper Peninsula. In fact, the volume of propane Enbridge provides through Line 5 is 0.25%. Trucking this amount would be a continuance of current practice to deliver propane in this area. Furthermore, good union jobs in green energy are being ignored. As of 2017, 3.4M Americans were employed in the green energy sector compared to 3.0M in the fossil fuel sector. Developing renewable energy in the Upper Peninsula could be Michigan’s beginning in green energy independence.

It is the responsibility of Michigan’s elected leaders to act in the interest of Michigan residents’ well-being, our environment, and our economy. Line 5 threatens Michigan and Michiganders. The fact that Line 5 is in violation of Treaty Rights, in itself makes it unconstitutional. Line 5 must be decommissioned, and the tunnel project rejected. The Caucus thanks Attorney General, Dana Nessel, for her courageous stand.

Anishinaabek Caucus of MDP is a political caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party advocating for the issues and concerns of the 12 Tribes in Michigan.