The Michigan Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear oral arguments on suits brought by tribal nations and environmental advocates that challenge state regulators' approval of permits for the Line 5 tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

Two environmental groups and four tribal bodies have asked the court to overturn a decision that allowed the tunnel project to go forward. If approved, the tunnel project will run beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

In a Friday news release, plaintiffs Environmental Law & Policy Center and Michigan Climate Action Network said the pipeline would facilitate oil flow across the Great Lakes for 99 years.

Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, claimed the pipeline "unduly threatens the vital air, water, and other natural

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