8/21/2026

BAYFIELD COUNTY – A judge in Bayfield County heard oral arguments yesterday in a case aimed to stop the Enbridge Line 5 reroute in Ashland and Iron Counties.  The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and other environmental groups filed the lawsuit to overturn a permit awarded by the Wisconsin DNR to build 41 miles of new pipeline. Environmental groups say the ongoing construction project threatens the health of tribal waterways and wetlands and pointed to a recent drilling fluid spill and that the DNR violated the law when it granted the permit.  Enbridge says the project has been thoroughly studied and says “We continue to work through the court process and look forward to the judge’s decision on the merits. The permitting record for the Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project speaks for itself.”  The hearing ended yesterday afternoon, with more briefs due next month.