ANN ARBOR, Mich. —The final Environmental Impact Statement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the controversial Line 5 tunnel project — and the process that led to it — buries the risks the pipeline poses to the wildlife, water, and people of the Great Lakes.

"Whether Line 5 is on the lakebed or tunnel, it is a clear and present danger to the wildlife, waters, and way of life of Great Lakes communities," said Beth Wallace, Great Lakes climate and energy director for the National Wildlife Federation. This expedited tunnel permit, designed by Enbridge and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was designed for approval and bypassed a serious and transparent airing of the risks and alternatives. The only true path forward for the Great Lakes, Tribes, local businesses, and our energy future is an orderly shutdown of Line 5."

The Corps' reliance on a flawed and limited environmental review has ignored the full scope of risks posed by constructing a massive fossil fuel tunnel in the Straits of Mackinac. The process failed to adequately consult Tribal Nations, disregarded credible scientific analysis of climate impacts and potential catastrophic spills, and dismissed viable energy alternatives.