Supreme Court Keeps Line 5 Pipeline Case in Michigan Court, Rejects Federal Shift

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Michigan’s legal challenge against Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline will remain in state court, marking a key procedural win in the long-running dispute.

(P&GJ) — The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Michigan’s legal challenge against Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline will remain in state court, siding with state officials in a procedural dispute over where the case should be heard, according to Michigan Advance.

In a unanimous decision, the court found that Enbridge did not meet the required deadline to move the case to federal court, ending a prolonged jurisdictional battle tied to the state’s effort to shut down a portion of the pipeline.

Line 5 is a 645-mile system transporting crude oil and natural gas liquids from Wisconsin to Ontario, including a segment that crosses the Straits of Mackinac, a sensitive waterway connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron. The pipeline moves up to 23 million gallons per day through the region.

The case remains tied to a broader dispute over the pipeline’s operation in the straits, where Michigan officials previously revoked an easement allowing Enbridge to operate. That action is still under appeal following a federal court ruling that cited federal authority over pipeline safety regulation.

Enbridge has maintained that oversight of pipeline safety falls under federal jurisdiction, while the state continues to pursue its challenge through the courts, as reported by Michigan Advance.

The decision does not resolve the underlying dispute over the pipeline’s future, but it keeps the case within Michigan’s court system as legal proceedings continue.