(The Center Square) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a notice of violation to Enbridge on Tuesday related to its Line 5 bypass in Iron and Ashland counties.
The violation included a failure to install erosion and sediment controls, unpermitted construction outside of approved boundaries, discharges into water in the state on July 15, unpermitted activities in wetlands and waterways and several unauthorized impacts to waterways and wetlands due to construction.
“After the enforcement conference, the DNR can take additional enforcement action that can include issuing citations and referring the case to the Wisconsin Department of Justice for prosecution to seek forfeitures and other court-ordered remedies,” the DNR said, noting that staff was not available for an interview on the notice. “Specific enforcement actions for this NOV will be finalized after the enforcement conference and further investigation.”
The violation also noted a failure to comply with endangered resources requirements and Line 5 rupture violations.
The DNR scheduled a teleconference at 1 p.m. on Oct. 26 related to enforcement of the violations.
Enbridge is currently working on a 41-mile reroute of Line 5 in northern Wisconsin around Bad River Band land but has had several incidents during the process, including an Aug. 25 gas pipeline spill that led to a temporary shutdown.
The Bad River Band and several environmental groups have fought the pipeline reroute approvals due to the potential environmental impacts of the project.