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Enbridge Line 5 temporarily shut down in Michigan after protestors break into valve site

Protestors posted incident on social media

Enbridge Line 5 is back up and running after protestors broke into a valve site.

Detroit Will Breathe and Stop Line 3 are the named groups either behind or supporting the protest, broadcasting their message through Facebook live and accompanied by protestors with signs.

Original report: Enbridge temporarily stops Michigan pipeline due to protests

One masked protestor armed with bolt cutters and a plumbers wrench crawled under the fence in Vassar, and then cut a safety device and started cranking a valve to shut down the oil’s flow.

It took more than 40 minutes of winding.

The group said they called 911 and Enbridge before going in.

The company said it shut down the pipeline itself as a precaution.

Enbridge also released a statement, blasting what it calls criminal behavior:

“The groups involved in Tuesday’s incident claim to be protecting the environment, but they do the opposite and put safety of people at risk -- including themselves, first responders and neighboring communities and landowners.

“We take this very seriously and will support the prosecution of all those involved.”

Enbridge

“Maybe it wasn’t their goal to put people in danger but they literally put a whole community with a pressurized pipeline in danger of losing their lives, their livelihood and everything that they own,” said state Rep. Phil Green (R-Huron County), who lives a short distance from the pipeline.


Canada cites US treaty in Line 5 pipeline dispute with Michigan

Canada invoked a treaty with the United States and asked a judge Monday to suspend litigation over Michigan’s effort to shut down a Great Lakes oil pipeline.

Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau made clear that his government is backing Enbridge, the Calgary-based company that operates Line 5.

Canada said it requested negotiations with the U.S. about the pipeline. It cited a provision in a 1977 treaty that says no public authority in either country can take steps to interfere with the flow of hydrocarbons.

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