Enbridge Constructs Unauthorized Bypass After Wisconsin’s Largest Oil Spill, Defying Regulators
Enbridge built a bypass for Line 5 without state permits after Wisconsin’s biggest oil spill, ignoring DNR orders to shut the line.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ordered Enbridge to keep the Line 5 pipeline offline after the state’s largest oil-and-gas spill on Aug. 25, but the firm ignored the directive and built a new bypass around the damaged section. The construction, which required permits to cross waterways and wetlands, proceeded without DNR approval, and Enbridge barred regulators from the site for several weeks, citing safety concerns.
A federal no-fly zone further limited independent monitoring until it was lifted on Sept. 14, the same day the pipeline was restarted. Tribal Chair Liz Arbuckle questioned the value of permits, receiving vague answers from DNR officials, while Bad River tribal member Joe Bates documented the spill with drone footage. State officials, including DNR Secretary Karen Hyun and Governor Tony Evers, have condemned Enbridge’s actions but have not revoked permits or pursued legal action. Environmental groups such as the National Wildlife Federation and tribal leaders in Michigan and Minnesota have called the pipeline a “ticking time bomb” and urged decommissioning.
Why it matters
The bypass shows how a major pipeline operator can sidestep state oversight, raising concerns about environmental safety and regulatory authority.
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