Wisconsin DNR wants Enbridge to halt work on Line 5 pipeline following spill
Enbridge responds to requests
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SAXON, Wisconsin -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a letter to Canadian energy company Enbridge on Thursday requesting that the company halt all work on the pipeline re-routing project currently underway in the state after a liquified natural gas spill occurred along the line near Saxon, Wisconsin, prompting a local evacuation.
"The agency is deeply concerned about this spill and immensely frustrated by other recent noncompliance events and has several outstanding questions of Enbridge and would appreciate written responses as expeditiously as possible," notes the letter.
"The department requests that you halt work on the pipeline re-routing project until this event on the existing pipeline is sufficiently resolved and Enbridge has demonstrated that measures are in place to prevent future spill events related to all pipeline work."
The letter asks for specific information from Enbridge, including the worst-case volume of vapor release, Enbridge’s timeline for implementing measures to control the release and air monitoring data.
Enbridge released a statement on Sunday.
"On Tuesday, Aug. 25, a parked and unoccupied third-party subcontractor flatbed truck delivering equipment to the site rolled forward into an open evacuation at a Line 5 valve project, striking the pipe and releasing natural gas liquids, mainly propane and butane," read Enbridge’s statement. "They are transported by pipeline as liquids, but when exposed to normal outdoor conditions, rapidly vaporize into gases."
Enbridge said its crews on Sunday began using trailer-mounted flare stacks to safely remove remaining vapors from the isolated section of Line 5 impacted by a third-party line strike in northern Wisconsin.
"The flare stacks safely burn excess hydrocarbon vapors in a controlled and planned manner,” the company said.
In an earlier statement made Saturday, Enbridge said that the spill had thus far released about 31,000 barrels of primarily propane and butane (1.3 million gallons), which had vaporized and dispersed into the atmosphere. As of Saturday evening, about 2,000 barrels of liquid had been contained.
Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.