Enbridge announces legal action over Line 5 agreements

Enbridge announced on Thursday that it's filing a legal action with the Michigan Court of Claims. The Court of Claims deals with civil actions filed against the state and its agencies.

Enbridge is asking the court to rule on the legality of agreements it reached with former Gov. Rick Snyder to build an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the channel linking lakes Huron and Michigan.

Snyder, a Republican, was replaced in January by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. She halted the tunnel plans in March. Whitmer is pushing the company to speed up its timeline for building the tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac and wants to reach an agreement by Monday, June 10th. 

Enbridge says it wants the court to uphold the agreements it made with the Snyder administration.

Guy Jarvis is the Executive Vice President of Enbridge.

"What we have been unable to agree with the state on is their insistence that the entirety of Line 5 be shut down within two years, a period within which the tunnel cannot possibly be completed," Jarvis said.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said a law enacted in December to implement the tunnel agreement violates the state Constitution. 

The attorney general's office issued this statement following Enbridge's announcement on Thursday: "While we are not able to comment on Enbridge's lawsuit as we have yet to receive it, we are pleased to know that Enbridge shares the Attorney General's interest in securing an expedited resolution to this matter. We look forward to seeing them in Court."

Editor's note: Enbridge is one of Michigan Radio's corporate sponsors.