Judge’s Order Extending Stay on 5 Construction is a Win for Wisconsin’s Environment

Madison, WI—On Friday, February 28, Administrative Law Judge Angela Chaput Foy issued an order extending a stay on Line 5 construction while a legal challenge brought by Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA) and partner organizations is pending.

In December, MEA filed a petition for a contested case hearing challenging state permits and other regulatory approvals for Enbridge Energy’s controversial plan to build a new 41-mile segment of its Line 5 oil pipeline near the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin.

In January, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) granted the petition, which MEA filed on behalf of Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and 350 Wisconsin and submitted jointly with Clean Wisconsin. In granting the petition, the DNR recognized  MEA’s request for a temporary stay on permits and other project approvals and noted the stay would be in effect until the case was referred to an administrative law judge.

The order issued by Judge Foy on Friday extends the stay and prevents Enbridge from moving forward with any construction-related activities pending the outcome of the contested case hearing.
Judge Foy wrote in the order, “The Petitioners have made compelling arguments that support the continuation of the stays. It is necessary to avoid the likelihood of significant adverse impacts to the environment should the permitted project and/or discharge be allowed to proceed during the pendency of this proceeding.”

Rob Lee, Staff Attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, said, “We filed this legal challenge because Enbridge’s plans will cause irreparable harm to numerous wetlands and waterways. Extending the stay on pipeline construction is critical to protecting northern Wisconsin’s water resources while our case is pending.

Learn more about this case here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.