Judge upholds Wisconsin DNR’s permit for Line 5 Oil Pipeline
Madison, Wis. (Northern News Now) — Plans are moving forward for a project that will relocate Enbridge’s Line 5 project.
On Friday, the administrative law judge upheld permits from the Wisconsin DNR, giving the green light to construction.
Line 5 starts in Superior and runs through northwest Wisconsin, including the Bad River Band Reservation.
Enbridge submitted permit applications to state and federal regulators in early 2020 for this project.
In November 2024, the Wisconsin DNR awarded permits to the project.
Then, the Bad River Band and environmental groups challenged the permits, sending the decision to a contested case hearing.
Last August and October. There were public comment periods in both Ashland and Madison, Wisconsin.
Enbridge, along with the Bad River Band and environmental groups, shared their sides.
Enbridge, saying extensive research has been done on this project, and it is the reroute that impacts the environment the least.
Representatives from Enbridge share that Friday’s decision is an important milestone for the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project.
“The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources made the right decision when it issued permits for the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project after an extensive and thorough four-plus-year review,” said Enbridge spokespeople.
The Bad River Band said the project will threaten the tribe’s way of life, impacting the quality of their water.
“Today’s decision ignores strong evidence that the DNR broke the law when it approved the Line 5 reroute. Enbridge’s project threatens permanent damage to the Band’s treaty-protected water, plants, and medicines, all for the enrichment of a foreign oil pipeline company. The Band will continue to fight to protect their interests and halt construction,” said Earth Justice Senior Associate Attorney John Petoskey.
On Friday, the administrative law judge ruled in favor of Enbridge and upheld the state permits previously awarded.
RELATED: DNR, Enbridge reach deal after aquifer breach
RELATED: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues Enbridge Line 5 permit
Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app.
Copyright 2026 Northern News Now. All rights reserved.