Trump Grants Permit for Enbridge Line 5 Pipeline Crossing at St. Clair River

The permit renews federal authorization for the decades-old infrastructure as part of a broader push to bolster cross-border oil transport.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of an old, weathered pipeline valve or meter station along the banks of the St. Clair River, bathed in warm, golden sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of industrial nostalgia and the lingering environmental risks of aging energy infrastructure.The Trump administration's permit for the Line 5 pipeline crossing at the St. Clair River renews federal authorization for the aging infrastructure, despite ongoing environmental concerns.Marysville Today

The Trump administration has issued a presidential permit for Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline crossing at the St. Clair River, renewing federal authorization for the decades-old infrastructure. The permit applies only to the St. Clair River border crossing and does not cover Enbridge's separate proposal to build a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which remains under review.

Why it matters

The Line 5 pipeline has been a contentious issue, with Michigan attempting to shut it down and tribal nations pressing treaty-based claims against the project. Environmental advocates argue the permit benefits Enbridge without addressing consumer costs or environmental risks to the Great Lakes.

The details

The permit replaces a 1991 authorization for the Michigan crossing near Marysville in St. Clair County and allows Enbridge to continue operating and maintaining the existing pipeline facilities at the international boundary. Similar permits were also issued for several Enbridge pipeline operations in North Dakota as part of a wider effort to streamline energy infrastructure between the U.S. and Canada.

  • The Trump administration issued the permit on Wednesday, April 16, 2026.

The players

Enbridge

A Canadian energy transportation company that operates the Line 5 pipeline, which stretches from northwestern Wisconsin through Michigan into Sarnia, Ontario.

Sean McBrearty

The coordinator for the environmental advocacy group Oil & Water Don't Mix, who argues the permit benefits Enbridge without addressing consumer costs or environmental risks.

Ryan Duffy

An Enbridge spokesperson who welcomed the permit authorization, stating it enables the company's existing cross-border pipeline network to continue safely and reliably delivering energy.

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What they’re saying

“Calling this 'energy relief' is a smokescreen. This permit won't lower prices by a single cent. It's a subsidy for Enbridge and paid for with continued Great Lakes risk.”

— Sean McBrearty, Coordinator, Oil & Water Don't Mix

“This important action enables Enbridge's existing cross-border pipeline network, moving more than 3 million barrels a day, to continue safely and reliably delivering the energy that is foundational to both U.S. and Canadian economic competitiveness and security.”

— Ryan Duffy, Spokesperson, Enbridge

What’s next

The permit covers only the St. Clair River crossing, and Enbridge's separate proposal to build a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac remains under review by state and federal regulators.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's decision to grant the permit for the Line 5 pipeline crossing at the St. Clair River is part of a broader strategy to expand fossil fuel infrastructure, despite ongoing legal disputes and environmental concerns. The move benefits Enbridge but does not address consumer costs or the risks to the Great Lakes ecosystem.