(The Center Square) – Lawyers from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and several environmental groups will present their case starting on Monday in Ashland to block Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources permits for a 41-mile reroute of the Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin.
The tribe and environment groups are challenging the permits. Testimony is expected from Bad River Band Tribal Chairman Robert Blanchard, Mashkiziibii Natural Resources Director Naomi Tillison, groundwater expert Dr. John Bratton, water resources expert Noah Greenburg and wetlands expert Alice Thompson expected as the trial meets daily from 9 a.m. on Monday through Friday.
Enbridge and Wisconsin business leaders have pointed toward an extensive review process that took place before the permits were granted. The project also needs approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“This phase of the hearing will center the voice of the Band, which faces an existential threat from both the existing Line 5 and the planned reroute,” Earthjustice senior attorney Stefanie Tsosie told The Center Square. “We look forward to sharing information and analyses showing the permanent and irreversible destruction that this reroute will cause to north Wisconsin.”
The Center Square was unsuccessful getting comment from Enbridge on Friday.
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“After five years of extensive public review and input, the 41-mile Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project is already the most-studied pipeline project in state history,” Enbridge previously told The Center Square. “The thorough Wisconsin permitting process resulted in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement and allowed the WDNR to identify mitigation measures that ensure the project’s impacts are minimal.”
Enbridge is scheduled to present its case on the challenged permits next week in Madison before the Department of Natural Resources presents its case in two weeks.