FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News from Progress Michigan
November 13, 2020
Contact: Lonnie Scott, 734-323-6028, lonnie@progressmichigan.org
Gov. Whitmer’s Line 5 Announcement Is the Good News We All Needed
Shutting down Line 5 is a win for environmental justice
MICHIGAN – Today, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that she is taking action to shut down Line 5, a major oil pipeline that runs through the Great Lakes. Citing multiple instances of Enbridge violating the 1953 easement between the company and the state, Gov. Whitmer is revoking the easement and ordering that Line 5 be shut down by May.
“This is a huge win for everyone who cares about the Great Lakes and for the environmental justice activists who have fought for decades to shut down Line 5,” said Lonnie Scott, executive director of Progress Michigan. “For too long, Michiganians’ health and safety and the environment of our Great Lakes have been threatened by the potential for a catastrophic oil spill along Line 5. We applaud Gov. Whitmer for taking decisive action to protect public health, keep our water clean, and respect the rights of indigenous people living in northern Michigan. Now more than ever, we’re ready to move our state forward toward a more sustainable future.”
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