AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
The Bad River Reservation and environmental groups are challenging Wisconsin’s permits for Enbridge’s Line 5 relocation project. Enbridge argues the project is environmentally safe, with modifications to routes to minimize impact, including adjustments to stream restoration and crossing locations due to erosion. The project uses three techniques for water body crossings, potentially requiring rerouting water in wetlands. Attorneys for opposing groups questioned Enbridge’s choice of methods. Enbridge is presenting its case this week, defending the detailed process used to develop the route.
News summary provided by Gemini AI.
MADISON (WKOW) — The Bad River Reservation and environmental advocates have challenged the state-issued permits for the Line 5 relocation project.
The first witnesses were called to the stand Monday and argued that the project is environmentally safe.Â
The pipeline will ship oil and natural gas through northern Wisconsin.
“Line 5 ships product from Superior, Wisconsin across northern Wisconsin through Michigan and terminates at Sarnia, Ontario,” said James Watts from Enbridge.Â
Enbridge called up Tim Drake from Environmental Resources Management (ERM). He said Enbridge is modifying some of the routes to reduce the amount of environmental impact construction could have.Â
“The modification of a stream restoration at a specific location where the types of restoration materials will be modified,” Drake said. “One of the crossings is an adjustment to the location of crossing just based on continued erosion.”Â
“There are three basic water body crossing techniques that the project will use: the open-cut crossing technique, dry crossing technique and the trenchless crossing techniques,” Drake said.
The three methods will determine whether Enbridge will have to reroute water or not when installing the pipes through a wetlands area.
Attorneys for groups suing over the project questioned why Enbridge chose one method over another.Â
Drake said the process to develop the route was detailed.Â
Enbridge will continue to push its case for relocating Line 5 this entire week at the Hill Farms State Office Building in Madison.Â
