Environmentalists Cite Enbridge Line 6 Leak in Line 5 Debate

Frederica Freyberg:
In environmental news, nearly 70,000 gallons of oil spilled from a pipeline in Jefferson County. It started leaking more than a month ago. Canadian company Enbridge operates the pipeline and says the spill “involved a faulty connection on a pump transfer pipe within the Enbridge Cambridge station, which has been repaired. Investigation and remediation began immediately upon discovery and continues. Removal of impacted soils is continuing. We estimate roughly 60% of the volume has been recovered so far.” This spill was discovered the same week the Wisconsin DNR issued initial permits for the controversial Line 5. That’s the Enbridge pipeline reroute around Bad River tribal land in northern Wisconsin. Environmental advocate Tony Wilkin Gibart says the DNR’s reasoning for approving Line 5 defies common sense.

Tony Wilkin Gibart:
In Jefferson County, the spill happened for an extended period of time without the spill being detected, and that happened at Enbridge’s own facility. So the idea that Enbridge will, with any reliability, be able to detect a leak across a 40-mile segment through pristine wilderness in northern Wisconsin is highly, highly questionable.