New Drone Footage Submitted
Check out the new drone footage submitted to the Observations page. To see the most recent observations, sort by date, “latest to earliest.”
Here are some especially notable videos of drone footage:
New Report: PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety Records Show a Failure to Prevent Ruptures and Enforce the Law
A new report –prepared for the Great Lakes Business Network by the University of Michigan Law School—Environmental Law & Sustainability Clinic– about federal pipeline oversight by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is very concerning.
The study analyzed all Notice of Proposed Safety Orders (NOPSO) since 2010. NOPSOs are used by the administration “to notify an operator that a particular pipeline facility has a condition or conditions that pose a pipeline integrity risk to public safety, property, or the environment.”
The findings show an “alarming track record, revealing that the agency is largely reactive rather than proactive in enforcement, requiring pipeline operators to follow regulations only after ruptures, leaks, and failures have already occurred.”
Read the full report here.
News: Enbridge’s Line 5 Reroute Blasts Through Bedrock Without Permits, Threatening the Great Lakes
Read Unicorn Riot’s coverage of the April 16th court hearing, and a deeper dive into the impacts of blasting through bedrock. Enbridge still does not know exactly where it plans to blast through bedrock.
North Country Trail Construction Alert
See image for map. Full text beloow.
Enbridge has begun their Line 5 Segment Relocation project that intersects the NCT in the Mellen / Copper Falls to Gurney area (MM 171.25, MM 185-186.5, and MM 200.5-202.5; map: https://arcg.is/bPuSX2). They have coordinated with the NCTA to minimize impacts to the NCT and NCT hikers.
Enbridge has already cleared trees on the pipeline corridor and expects to start construction activity beginning this May (2026). NCT users can expect heavy construction traffic on Vogues Road, which is also an access road for reaching the NCT. Temporary NCT detours / closures may be possible as blasting will be used near MM 186.25.
The NCT in the Wren Falls area is best accessed via Casey Sag Road (off of Hwy 77) to Sullivan Forest Road to Wren Falls Road (map: https://arcgis.is/1aKzWv0).
Learn more about the project at https://www.enbridge.com/projects-and-infrastructure/public-awareness/line-5-wisconsin-segment-relocation-project.
If you have NCT-related questions in the area, contact the Heritage Chapter at htg@northcountrytrail.org.
New Podcast: The Fight Over Line 5 Is Far From Over
March 27th – Live Radio Broadcast – WORT Madison
On today’s show, host Esty Dinur is in conversation with four guests–Joe Bates, Matthew Borke, Rob Lee, and Gracie Waukechon–who are fighting against the reroute of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in northern Wisconsin. Enbridge has begun construction on the reroute though the legal battle has not been fully resolved.
Joe Bates discusses how he uses his drone to observe the construction. He’s captured footage of the new easement where Enbridge plans to use horizontal directional drilling to install the new pipeline. Matthew Borke says that what we’re hearing from the Trump administration is a forked-tongue message. He encourages folks to stay informed about the legal proceedings.
Gracie Waukechon says that this issue is personal. In light of the threat that the pipeline poses to the lands and waters of the region she says, “I feel as if my future has been taken away from me.” She’s also worried about the future of resistance in light of a contract that Ashland County officials signed last month for policing protests.
Rob Lee talks about how Enbridge is starting to break ground on construction of the reroute, but it’s not a foregone conclusion that they will get final approval. He reminds listeners that the oil that passes through Line 5 passes from Canada and back to Canada, which should concern people across the political spectrum.
Click here to listen to the podcast.