Tribal and environmental leaders are calling on Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to declare a disaster and hold Enbridge accountable, following last month’s Line 5 pipeline spill in Iron County.
The pipeline released an estimated 1.3 million gallons of natural gas liquids near the Bad River Reservation in Saxon, after a subcontractor’s unoccupied truck struck the pipeline.
Enbridge has since returned Line 5 to service using a temporary bypass. State officials had asked the company to halt construction over missing permits.
The Bad River Band is asking Governor Evers to declare a disaster and revoke permits for Enbridge’s 41-mile reroute around the reservation.
Environmental groups and tribal leaders say the spill threatens treaty-protected lands and water resources. Enbridge maintains Line 5 is critical infrastructure serving the Midwest and Great Lakes region, and says monitoring has found no contamination in nearby waters or wells.
WI leaders resolute in demands for state action after Line 5 spill
