According to Indigenous water protectors, it's not a matter of whether a pipeline will rupture and leak, but when. The federal government supports this view, as data shows 1.5 incidents per day in 2023. The Bad River Reservation has seen a decade-long fight to protect against such pollution, and yet permits for a 41-mile pipeline around this area remain granted by the state DNR. It illustrates a consistent threat where pipelines run dangerously close to the river's meander and to tribal lands.
The permitting decision comes after attempts by tribal leaders to prevent further encroachment into lands that have historically been protected. The danger of a catastrophic rupture near the Bad River is not just theoretical, evidenced by the line that has leaked 35 times since 1953, spilling over a million gallons of oil. The existing Line 5 pipeline, which is closer than ever to the riverbank due to erosion, raises alarm among Indigenous communities who prioritize environmental protection.
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