Reprinted here in part with permission
Concerned citizens should call the Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Line National Response Hotline: 800-424-8802
WCMC (Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative) received a leaked Facebook post that originated with an Enbridge employee showing that only 7 feet remain between the Bad River and the Line 5 pipeline, and stating the the employee was fired for questioning the situation.
Peter Bigboy, a Bad River Band member known to be supportive of Enbridge Line 5 and one of the first Band members to be hired by Enbridge, has been fired, according to the phone photo of his Facebook page, for questioning the loss of shoreline near the endangered length of pipe.
On May 18, 2023 the Bad River Band appeared in District Court to ask that the pipeline get shut down out of imminent safety concerns. Judge William Conley refused, saying he wanted Enbridge and Bad River to come to an agreement. He did, however, admit he has the power to do just that, and that the pipeline will eventually be shut down. At that time of the hearing on Thursday, the distance from the river to the pipeline was 11 feet, losing 4 more feet in a few days.
Enbridge confirmed at the hearing they will need a minimum of 5 days to purge the line of oil. This situation may not allow for that.
Enbridge is operating illegally on the Bad River Reservation, as Judge Conley reaffirmed in Thursday’s hearing. In November, 2022, he ruled that the multinational foreign oil company was criminally trespassing and illegally enriching themselves off the profits of their operations while trespassing.
According to Sean Quinlan of PHMSA (Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration):
Since the Enbridge Line 5 is a PHMSA jurisdictional transmission line, I would suggest directly contacting the NRC 24-hour hotline at 1-800-424-8802. The NRC has a notification tree of required down channel reporting, and will contact state, county, local authorities, and federal authorities -- such as, the EPA and PHMSA. The PHMSA Accident Investigation Division would then be contacted and work in concert with inspectors from the Central Region to investigate the release.
Concerned citizens should call the Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Line National Response Hotline 800-424-8802.
Also call Enbridge Crude Oil Pipeline emergency number (800) 858-5253.
CLICK HERE to see photos of the progression of this erosion by David Joe Bates.
Editor's Note: Thanks to the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative for keeping us updated on this potentially disastrous situation.
