Story perspectives

Army Corps Issues Permit for Enbridge Mackinac Tunnel

8/14/2026

Center

Enbridge Tunnel Permit

The Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit on August 12 2026 for Enbridge Energy to construct a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle said approval, under President Donald Trump’s “Building Infrastructure, No Paperwork” initiative, reflects his energy vision.
Corps warned the tunnel could harm Houghton’s goldenrod and dwarf lake iris.
A 6-1 Michigan Supreme Court ruling overturned a permit, adding years to construction.

Left

Enbridge Tunnel Permit

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued an August 12 2026 permit for Enbridge Energy to build a tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac.
Indigenous groups and environmental advocates say the tunnel threatens sacred lands and could damage cultural resources.
The Corps warned construction would permanently harm archaeological sites and Straits of Mackinac cultural landscape.
The Michigan Supreme Court said the Public Service Commission ignored public-rights harm and Line 5 shutdown.
Attorney General Dana Nessel sued Enbridge, alleging Line 5 violates Michigan’s public trust doctrine.

Blindspot

Indigenous groups and environmental advocates warn the tunnel threatens sacred lands and could cause permanent damage to cultural resources, as stated by Nichole Keway Biber of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

Following the 2016 Dakota Access protests—led by the Standing Rock Sioux and amplified by more than 33,000 public-trust petitions—the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was ordered in 2020 to complete a full environmental review. The 2026 Enbridge tunnel permit now faces lawsuits from the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, reflecting a decade-long trend toward stricter federal review and stronger tribal sovereignty.

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Enbridge Tunnel Permit

The Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit on August 12 2026 for Enbridge Energy to construct a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle said approval, under President Donald Trump’s “Building Infrastructure, No Paperwork” initiative, reflects his energy vision.
Corps warned the tunnel could harm Houghton’s goldenrod and dwarf lake iris.
A 6-1 Michigan Supreme Court ruling overturned a permit, adding years to construction.

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