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Enbridge Energy, Inc. Crude Oil Pipeline
Background: Wisconsin ’s special natural places and sustainable future are being threatened by yet another large-scale construction project by Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. Enbridge, which operates the world's longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system, is proposing to build two 321-mile long pipelines. The proposed pipelines would cut diagonally across Wisconsin, from Superior to Delavan, crossing 242 rivers and streams and 74 miles of wetlands. Construction activities are expected to disturb 1,265 acres of wetland, including 262 acres of wooded wetland, and clear cut 1,930 acres of upland forest. This proposal would add to the two large-scale pipelines the company has already built in the area, and may set the stage for continued construction in the future. By the end of the project, up to 3,900 acres of land, including 48,400 feet of river bank will be transformed into a construction site. Based on DNR’s estimate that 30 tons of sediment can erode off every one-acre construction site, the 3,900-acre pipeline site could cause up to 117,090 tons of sediment (roughly 14,600 dump trucks) to erode from the pipeline construction site into our state’s waters. Cleared forests will only be replanted at the landowners’ request, and revegetation could take decades. Wetland vegetation and functions could be permanently altered, affecting surrounding water quality and wildlife habitat. Once operating, Enbridge pipeline exposes pristine areas to the threat of a crude oil spill. Enbridge pipelines spilled roughly 252,000 gallons of crude oil in Cohassett, MN in 2002, and more than 3.3 million gallons of crude oil into the Canadian environment since 1990. Wisconsin has experienced at least seven spills from Enbridge pipelines since 1999. On November 27, 2007, DNR concluded that the project will be insignificant and issued environmental permits without the completion of a full Environmental Impact Statement. In addition to the impacts in Wisconsin, the pipeline would lead to further degradation of the tar sand region in Alberta, Canada. Tar sand extraction relies on large supplies of natural gas and land, making it a very expensive, energy intensive, and environmentally harmful source of petroleum. Given our growing problems with air quality and global climate change, Wisconsin should be exploring more sustainable energy solutions such as solar, wind, and biomass power, rather than allowing its special natural places to be exploited so that a polluting industry can expand its reach into the U.S. market. Currently, 10 Wisconsin counties fail to meet EPA standards for ozone, largely due to gasoline combustion. As set forth in a recent Executive Order, Governor Doyle has set a firm commitment to reduce the State’s petroleum use the next 3-10 years. If built, the new pipeline will allow Enbridge to increase distribution of oil to the Midwest states by 400,000 barrels per day. On Update: On On |
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Permits: View a map of the proposed pipeline route across Wisconsin. Read MEA's January 3, 2007 Press Release Read MEA's December 21, 2006 Press Release Read MEA's November 20, 2006 Press Release Read MEA's October 2, 2006 Comments to the DNR on the Proposed Enbridge Pipeline project
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Test Wells Installed near Exeland Farmers At Odds With Pipeline Company Oil Spill Taints Water Table 2nd Pipeline Break Spills Oil in Wis. 2nd Pipeline Break Spills Oil in Wis. Enbridge- Pipeline Spills 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County Enbridge- Pipeline Spills 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County Enbridge- Pipeline Spills 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County Construction Mistake Spills Oil in Northern Wisconsin 2nd Pipeline Break Spills Oil in Wisconsin Pipeline Spilled 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County 2nd Oil Spill in Wis. Pipeline Spills 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County 2nd Pipeline Break Spills Oil in Wis. 2nd Pipeline Break Spills Oil in Wis. Enbridge- Pipeline Spills 126,000 Gallons of Oil in Rusk County One Month - Two Oil spills in Wis. Pipeline Push Readied in Rusk County Environmental Group Says Oil Spill Underscores Its Point Crews Working To Recover Oil Spilled from Underground Pipeline Environmental Group Says Oil Spill Underscores Its Point Oil Spill Re-energizes Foes of New 321-mile Pipeline Cleanup Crews Recover Thousands of Gallons of Crude Oil Spill in Clark County Oil Spill Larger Then First Thought Cleanup Continues from Oil Pipeline Break Oil Group Cleans Spill in Clark County 52,000 Gallons Spilled, Suit Challenges Pipeline Plan 52,000 Gallons Spilled, Suit Challenges Pipeline Plan Pipeline Break Spews Oil Into Farmer's Field 52,000 Gallons Spilled, Suit Challenges Pipeline Plan 52,000 Gallons Spilled, Suit Challenges Pipeline Plan 52,000 Gallons Spilled, Suit Challenges Pipeline Plan 52,000 Gallons of Oil Spilled in Clark County Wisconsin Oil Pipeline Leak Repaired, Flow to Resume Clark County Oil Spill is 52,000 Gallons Oil Spill in Clark County Enbridge is Cleaning Up Oil Spill in Wisconsin Pipeline Break Sends 21,000 Gallons of Oil into Farmer's Field Enbridge Pipe Spills Oil in Wisconsin Pipeline Break Sends 21,000 Gallons of Oil into Farmer's Field Lawsuit Is Filed Against Pipeline Environmental Advocates Sue Over Giant Oil Pipeline Suit Attacks Pipeline Approval Groups Sue DNR Over Approval of Plans for Petroleum Pipeline DNR Sued Over Oil Pipeline Permits Environmental Groups Sue the DNR Over Enbridge Pipeline Enbridge Pipeline Expansion May End Up In Court Environmental Advocates Sue over Giant Pipeline Environmental Groups Want More Study on Proposed Superior to Chicago Pipeline DNR Deals Another Blow to Foes of State Pipelines DNR Ruling on Nearby Oil Pipeline Expected This Week Pipeline Ruling Expected Soon 321 Mile Superior to Delavan Pipeline on Fast Track Two Pipeline Proposals an Environmental Risk Group Alleges Troubled History with Enbridge Pipeline Spills |
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