Wisconsin tribe fights back against dangerous pipeline reroute plans

In December 2024, a northern Wisconsin tribe, the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, along with various conservation groups, initiated legal action to block Enbridge’s plans to reroute an aging pipeline that traverses their reservation. The lawsuit was filed in Ashland County, asserting that state regulators had inadequate assessments of the environmental impacts posed by the reroute project. The tribe contends that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has improperly granted permits without sufficient evaluation of how the reroute would affect state waterways and wetlands. The concerns not only include environmental degradation but also the potential for catastrophic spills that could devastate the tribe's sacred wild rice beds and local watershed. The pipeline in question, known as Line 5, transports significant volumes of oil and natural gas daily, linking Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigan to Canada. The Bad River Band had previously taken legal action against Enbridge in 2019, arguing that the easements allowing the pipeline’s presence on their land had expired in 2013. They emphasized that the pipeline's age and proximity to their sacred lands posed critical risks. A federal judge ruled that Enbridge must remove the pipeline by 2026, a decision currently under review by a federal appellate court in Chicago. Despite these previous legal victories, the tribe and its allies remain deeply concerned that the rerouting project will merely prolong the use of fossil fuels while exacerbating risks to their environment. The DNR had issued permits for the reroute in November, insisting that the reroute would create over 700 jobs and maintain crucial energy flow; however, these claims have been met with skepticism by the tribe and environmental groups. They argue that the DNR failed in its responsibility to protect the environment for future generations, as expressed by the tribal chairman, Robert Blanchard. Meanwhile, similar concerns are echoed in Michigan, where Attorney General Dana Nessel has pursued legal actions against portions of Line 5 situated beneath the Straits of Mackinac. Her lawsuit highlights the danger of anchor strikes leading to potential spills in a very sensitive ecological area. While these legal battles continue, opposition to the rerouting plan manifests not just from the tribe, but from a coalition of organizations that advocate for environmental integrity and sustainability, making this a significant issue for many communities affected by oil transportation and fossil fuel dependency.