By Canadian Press

Three years too long a wait for Line 5 reroute, Indigenous band in Wisconsin says

Jun 21, 2023 | 11:52 AM

WASHINGTON — The Indigenous band that’s fighting Line 5 says three years is too long to wait for the controversial cross-border pipeline to be moved. 

A U.S. judge has given Enbridge Inc. until June 2026 to remove the 19 kilometres of pipe that crosses an Indigenous reservation in Wisconsin.  

But the chairman of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa says that’s more than enough time for a catastrophic oil spill to happen.

Mike Wiggins says he also fully expects Enbridge, which operates Line 5, to fight the order in court.

District court Judge William Conley also ordered the company to pay the band US$5.1 million in compensation for operating the pipeline without permission. 

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But band attorney Erick Arnold says the award will do little to discourage other energy companies from exploiting Indigenous communities in the future.   

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 21, 2023. 

The Canadian Press