Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
Madison, WISCONSIN – Today the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released its final environmental impact statement (EIS) on the Line 5 pipeline, a 71-year-old oil pipeline that has continued to illegally trespass through the Bad River Band’s reservation in northern Wisconsin. This is the expected next step in the permitting process after the DNR received feedback on their draft EIS in late 2021, feedback that 2 to 1 opposed the Line 5 reroute.
Just last week over 150,000 comments were submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in opposition of the Line 5 reroute, calling on the Army Corps to permanently shut down the pipeline. More than 60 Tribes, 130 environmental organizations, 200 businesses, 140 health professionals, and 22 health organizations across the United States and Canada publicly oppose permits for the reroute. According to Enbridge’s own expert testimony, shutting down Line 5 would increase the price of gas by less than a penny per gallon in Wisconsin and Michigan.
“We look forward to reviewing the document; however, our position on Line 5 has not changed. This pipeline is an existential threat to the Bad River Band, all those who rely on the Great Lakes, and our climate. Rerouting this pipeline is a false solution and absolutely impermissible. Line 5 must be shut down once and for all,” said Elizabeth Ward, Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter Director.
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The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.