Tribal leaders and environmental groups in Wisconsin oppose Enbridge's plan to reroute part of the Line 5 pipeline, citing environmental risks.
Tribal leaders and environmental groups in Wisconsin are urging state officials to reject plans to relocate part of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, arguing that the threat of a catastrophic oil spill would persist along the new route. The pipeline, which carries up to 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas daily, has been operating for 71 years and is currently crossing the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's reservation. Enbridge has proposed a 41-mile reroute, but opponents argue that it could harm the environment by exacerbating erosion and runoff, leaving scores of waterways vulnerable in the event of a spill. Enbridge is also facing a lawsuit filed by Michigan's Democratic attorney general seeking to shut down twin portions of Line 5 that run beneath the Straits of Mackinac.