Amelia Schafer
ICT

The controversial Line 5 oil pipeline remains shut down in Northern Wisconsin, as does construction of an on-going re-route project, following a crash into the pipeline on Aug. 25.

The pipeline is estimated to reopen on Sept. 5, 10 days after an unoccupied subcontractor’s flatbed truck rolled into an open construction site outside Saxon, Wisc.

In addition to the pipeline shutdown, all construction crews were ordered to take a 48 hour pause on new Line 5 construction around the Bad River Reservation to participate in project-wide safety training for construction workers beginning Aug. 31.

The crash caused an undisclosed amount of gas liquids to escape from the pipeline. A majority of gas released was mainly propane and butane, Enbridge told ICT in an email. These gases are transported in the form of liquids, but become gases when exposed to outdoor conditions.

The ongoing construction on the re-route process was not directly affected by the crash, as it occurred on a separate valve-repair project on a segment of the existing pipeline.

Enridge told ICT the company met with the Secretary of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to discuss the leak and the ongoing construction of a 41-mile re-route segment around the Bad River Reservation. After this meeting, the company announced a 48-hour pause on construction.

Construction sites were shut down on Sunday prior to the official two day pause Monday and Tuesday.

The goal of the pause is to “reinforce our existing safety practices and identify opportunities to further enhance our strong safety culture,” a spokesperson said.

Cleanup crews continue to burn off existing vapors released from the pipeline, the spokesperson said, and are conducting extensive air monitoring procedures at the site.

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians was not immediately available for comment when asked by ICT.

The post Line 5 shutdown continues, re-route project pauses following gas leak appeared first on ICT.

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