Here & Now

Judge Upholds Permit to Reroute Enbridge's Line 5 Pipeline

Frederica Freyberg:
In environmental news, a court ruling maintains that a permit was properly granted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, allowing the Canadian oil company Enbridge Energy to reroute an oil pipeline around the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. The tribe challenged the permit, saying the line poses an environmental threat to local waterways if a spill were to occur. The administrative law judge deciding the case wrote, “While the Band expresses concern regarding potential impacts, they have failed to provide evidence demonstrating that the authorized activities will, in fact, violate state water quality standards. The fears that they express are fears; they lack evidence showing that these changes will occur and impact water quality.” The Band has filed a challenge to the ruling. In a statement, an attorney from Earthjustice representing the tribe said, “Enbridge’s project threatens permanent damage to the Band’s treaty-protected water, plants and medicines, all for the enrichment of a foreign oil pipeline company. The Band will continue to fight to protect their interests and halt construction.”