Public Hearings in Ashland Focus on Line 5 Pipeline Proposal

Frederica Freyberg:
Hundreds turned out in Ashland for public hearings this week on a proposed addition and reroute of the controversial Line 5 pipeline. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held the hearings on a proposal by the Canadian Enbridge Energy Company to install 40 miles of new pipeline, seen in red in a reroute of Line 5 around the Bad River Reservation. As to the reroute, the tribe sued Enbridge over concerns of leaks and ruptures affecting the watershed, and a federal judge ruled the company must remove the pipeline from tribal land by 2026.

Rene Ann Goodrich:
They have been told to leave. Bad River does not want you there.

Evan Feinauer:
We’re talking about lengthening our addiction and our commitment to using this thing to flow oil and gas through it at a time when we need to be doing everything we can as fast as we can to stop that.

Frederica Freyberg:
Those in favor say the pipeline is needed to maintain energy independence, is safe and will create jobs.

Aaron Raab:
We are in support of Enbridge to get Line 5, the reroute underway. Get these, get these permits through so our members, a lot of tradesmen from northern Wisconsin and across the state, can get to work on this project.

Jennifer Smith:
Without Line 5, there would be a significant impact to not only the fuel, but definitely the natural gas liquids. That would raise prices. It could cause shortages.

Frederica Freyberg:
Currently, Line 5 transports half a million barrels of oil and gas every day from Western Canada through Wisconsin and Michigan.