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News From 91.3 KUWS
Environmental groups want more study on proposed Superior to Chicago pipeline
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12/21/2006 |
A lawsuit charging that the DNR isn't doing enough to protect Wisconsin rivers and wetlands from a major new pipeline proposed from Superior to Chicago has been filed Thursday. Mike Simonson reports.
Wisconsin Wetlands Director Becky Abel says the proposed Enbridge Energy pipeline would have an enormous impact on the 242 rivers and streams it’ll cross on its 321 miles to Illinois. "The fact that something like this can go through without a finding of significant impact is really disturbing that the department charged with protecting our natural resources could deem something like this not significant.” Abel says 1200 acres of wetlands will be crossed as well. Lori Grant with the Rivers Alliance is worried about the long-term impact of pipelines stretched across waterways. So they want an Environmental Impact Statement done before the pipeline is built. "We certainly don't want a disaster to happen here in Wisconsin as happened in Minnesota a few years ago when Enbridge's pipeline poured 252,000 gallons of crude oil into a marsh. We feel an environmental impact statement is the best way to insure that alternatives to that risk are clearly analyzed.” But Enbridge Energy’s Denise Hamsher says they’ve been operating pipelines since 1950 and have a good track record. She says delays to the project now by requiring more study will hurt a secure energy supply from the Alberta oil sands of Canada. "This project is meant to provide increased supplies of crude oil needs from a friendly neighbor to the north. That crude oil needs to meet the refineries that serve Wisconsin with jet fuel and gasoline and asphalt. By stopping or delaying this project we incur the kind of disruptions and price spikes that nobody wants.” The DNR has 20 days to respond to the suit before a hearing is scheduled in Madison.
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