Following a years-long legal battle over the existing portion of Line 5 running through Bad River Band lands, Enbridge agreed to cease transporting oil and gas through the pipes in 2020. 

Instead, Enbridge proposed to reroute the line by replacing 20 miles of existing pipeline – including the 12 miles currently within the reservation – with a 41-mile-long stretch of pipe around the reservation.

Environmental and tribal activists remain opposed to the move, citing potential wetland and wildlife destruction or contamination, potential oil spills, and other concerns.

“In granting these permits, DNR officials chose to serve Enbridge’s interests at the cost of the Bad River Band’s treaty rights and the state’s future clean water supply,” said Earthjustice Senior Attorney Stefanie Tsosie, who is representing the Bad River Band. “It’s sad that they are willing to gamble the region’s irreplaceable wetlands, the wild rice beds, and even Lake Superior to secure Enbridge’s cash flow.”

Enbridge forecasts the relocation would create more than 700 construction jobs and provide millions in tax revenue to the state. The company has also promised to allocate more than 10% of the $450 million budget for the project to Native-owned businesses and the training and hiring of tribal members to work on the project.

Wisconsin business, agricultural, and labor groups have embraced the DNR’s move, calling it the necessary next step to ensure energy remains abundant and affordable.

“Wisconsin farmers simply can’t do their jobs without the propane, diesel and gas made possible by pipelines like Line 5,” President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson said. “The issuance of the DNR’s Line 5 permits is a huge step forward for our state’s farmers and the hundreds of thousands of people that depend on our agricultural industry to feed their families.”

Line 5 currently transports up to 23 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids each day from Wisconsin to Ontario. 

“This is a huge win for our state’s workers and families who depend on the energy made possible by Line 5,” President of the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association Corey Gall said. “Wisconsin union pipe welders, who go through the most extensive training on earth, stand ready to get to work on this critical project that will ensure Line 5 continues to supply Wisconsin families with the energy they need.”