ASHLAND, WI (WPR)— The Bad River tribe and environmental groups say the state should overturn key permits issued to Canadian energy firm Enbridge as it seeks to reroute an oil and gas pipeline around the tribe’s reservation.
The state kicked off a contested case hearing in Ashland on Tuesday after the tribe, along with Midwest Environmental Advocates and Clean Wisconsin, challenged permits for the project in December.
In separate challenges, the tribe and environmental advocates argued that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources failed to comply with state law when it granted a wetland and waterway permit along with a construction storm water permit for Enbridge’s Line 5 relocation project.
In 2020, Enbridge proposed building a 41-mile segment of the oil and gas pipeline around the Bad River tribe’s reservation after the tribe sued to shut down Line 5 on its lands in 2019. The project would cross close to 200 waterways and temporarily disturb around 101 acres of wetlands in Ashland and Iron counties.
DNR Attorney Michael Kowalkowski said the record will show that the agency used the level of scrutiny and staff experience necessary to examine the known and potential impacts of the project.
The proceedings will continue through October 3.