The
state Department of Natural Resources issued a permit Monday to
Enbridge Energy Co. for waterway and wetlands crossings for two
petroleum pipelines that will stretch from Superior to Delavan.
The
waterway work can start immediately, said Dave Siebert, director of the
DNR's Office of Energy, but the wetland work has a 30-day waiting
period in which the permit could be challenged.
Environmental
groups have expressed opposition to allowing construction of the
pipeline without an environmental impact statement. The DNR approved
the project after an environmental assessment. One factor was that the
pipelines would be located in the same corridor as two existing
pipelines.
It was not certain whether environmentalists would challenge the wetland decision.
"This
is very disappointing," said Brent Denzin, an attorney for Midwest
Environmental Advocates. "We need to sit down and consider what to do."
Published: November 28, 2006
