Wisconsin oil spill fuels doubts over Enbridge’s pipeline safety

A recent Enbridge oil spill in Wisconsin has intensified concerns about the safety of the company’s Line 5 pipeline project, despite state assurances of minimal risk.

Kristoffer Tigue reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• Enbridge’s Line 6 pipeline leaked nearly 70,000 gallons of oil in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, raising questions about spill detection and response.
• The spill occurred just days before state officials approved permits for the controversial Line 5 project.
• The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and environmental groups are challenging these permits, citing ongoing trust issues and environmental risks.

Key quote:

“The close to 70,000 gallons of leaking crude oil from Enbridge’s Line 6 in Jefferson County shows why we have challenged DNR’s approval of the Line 5 reroute and why we have specifically challenged DNR’s conclusion that the risk of a Line 5 spill is small.”

— Tony Wilkin Gibart, executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates

Why this matters:

Oil spills threaten ecosystems, water sources and Indigenous lands. Recent incidents suggest pipeline safety measures are unreliable, raising broader concerns over fossil fuel infrastructure and environmental justice.

Read more: Why Indigenous women are risking arrest to fight Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline through Minnesota