(The Center Square) – Line 5 resumed operations in northern Wisconsin over the weekend after a natural gas pipeline spill Aug. 25 near Saxon damaged the pipeline and led to its temporary shutdown.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has sent multiple requests to Enbridge to halt construction on the 41-mile reroute of Line 5 in northern Wisconsin.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has done the same regarding a tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac with Bad River Band Chairwoman Elizabeth Arbuckle set to join a Wednesday press conference opposing the Michigan project.
The Wisconsin DNR most recently sent a Sept. 9 letter to Enbridge said “the department requests that Enbridge halt construction of the bypass so Enbridge can prioritize addressing the unresolved spill at the NGL spill site. Further, the people of Wisconsin expect and deserve that Enbridge takes the actions necessary to restore the environment and minimize the harmful effects of the discharge, especially with regards to the significant discharge of VOCs to the air.”
Enbridge said that wildlife and surface water in the area of the Saxon spill has not been impacted with water well and both soil and water monitoring in place.
“On Tuesday, Aug. 25, a parked and unoccupied subcontractor flatbed truck delivering equipment to the site rolled forward into an open excavation at a Line 5 valve project, striking the pipe and releasing natural gas liquids (NGLs), mainly propane and butane,” Enbridge said about the spill. “NGLs are transported by pipeline as liquids, but when exposed to normal outdoor conditions, rapidly vaporize into gases.”
Earthjustice filed a brief on Monday that argued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval of the Line 5 reroute was unlawful.
Earthjustice also filed a post-hearing brief in Wisconsin circuit court on its case against Wisconsin DNR permits on the project. The Bad River Band and environmental groups have asked for reroute construction to be halted while its case is heard.