View Comments
Lansing While the state s Democratic attorney general is saying she can t close Line 5 without a court order, Michigan s Democratic governor is insisting Enbridge will be considered a trespasser if it continues to operate the oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac after Wednesday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned an Enbridge executive Tuesday that if the Canadian company continued to operate in the Straits past Wednesday, the state would seek its profits if it eventually prevails in its legal fight to revoke the pipeline s easement. Continued operations would be considered an intentional trespass, she said.
The company, Whitmer said, will be liable for unjust enrichment, which will require disgorgement to the state of all profits derived from its wrongful use of the state s property.
Aquila Resources Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results
TORONTO (BUSINESS WIRE) Aquila Resources Inc. (TSX: AQA, OTCQB: AQARF) (“
Aquila” or the “
Company”) announces the filing of its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. All amounts, unless indicated, are reported in US dollars.
Guy Le Bel, President & CEO, commented, “Since joining Aquila as President & CEO in February, my focus has been making an already strong project even better. I am pleased with the progress our team is making on the optimized Back Forty Project Feasibility Study, which will demonstrate reduced surface impact and a longer mine life for the benefit of all stakeholders. I continue to be impressed by Michigan as a jurisdiction, notably highlighted by last week’s Senate resolution in support of responsible mining in the State. We look forward to advancing the Back Forty though its next phase of development, while at the same time evaluating opportunities to realize
Lynsey Mukomel
LANSING – 28 entities – including 16 states and the District of Columbia, four Native American Tribes, six environmental organizations and the Great Lakes Business Network – have submitted friend of the court briefs in support of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s motion to remand in State of Michigan, et al v Enbridge Energy, et al. The briefs support the State’s right to enforce its own laws in its own courts.
“We are grateful to the long list of Attorneys General, Governors, tribes, and organizations for their support in our fight to have this case tried where it belongs–in state court,” said Attorney General Nessel. “Gov. Whitmer and Director Eichinger took the necessary steps in November to address the grave threat posed by Enbridge’s unlawful operation of its pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac and we simply cannot continue to put our public waterways at risk.”
Another setback for controversial proposed mine along Wisconsin-Michigan border. //end headline wrapper ?>The Menominee River borders Michigan and Wisconsin. Danielle Kaeding/WPR
Another permit has been called into question for Aquila Resources’ plans to build the Back Forty mine near the Menominee River on the Michigan-Wisconsin border. A Michigan judge recently ruled the company’s mining permit should be sent back for further review of the mine’s potential impacts on groundwater.
The permit is one of several the company needs to begin work on the project. The ruling marks another victory for the Menominee Indian Tribe in its efforts to stop the mine and a setback for the Toronto-based company. Aquila wants to mine primarily gold and zinc from a 750-foot deep open pit that’s around 150 feet from the Menominee River.
17 state leaders join Michigan s plea for state sovereignty in Line 5 battle
Democratic leaders in 16 states and the District of Columbia have taken Michigan s side in its fight to have a state court, not a federal judge, decide whether the state has the authority to shutter Enbridge s Line 5 oil pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.
The states submitted an amicus brief earlier this month, arguing that federal courts don t have the jurisdiction to rule on disputes over state property rights even if the pipeline alleged to be in violation of those property rights is federally regulated.
Attorney General Dana Nessel asked Ingham County Circuit Court last year to uphold Gov. Gretchen Whitmer s revocation of Enbridge s easement in the Straits of Mackinac as well as her order to shutter the pipeline by May 12.