Enbridge Line 5 pipeline spills natural gas liquids in Wisconsin

Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline, which transports oil and natural gas liquids between Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada, experienced a spill of natural gas liquids in northern Wisconsin on August 25, 2026. The rupture occurred near the Bad River Reservation close to Lake Superior. Enbridge reported that the incident was caused by an unoccupied semi-truck striking the pipeline at an excavation site.

The spill follows years of tension regarding the 73-year-old pipeline’s safety and its potential impact on the Great Lakes. Indigenous activists and supporters recently gathered at the state Capitol to protest the pipeline, arguing that its continued operation poses a significant environmental threat. Tribal leaders have called for government-to-government discussions, urging decision-makers not to treat tribal opposition as an afterthought.

While Enbridge maintains that the pipeline meets safety standards and supports a project to encase the underwater section in a tunnel to extend its lifespan, the company faces ongoing legal challenges. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a permit for the Great Lakes Tunnel Project, though the Michigan Supreme Court has previously ordered regulators to reconsider permitting processes.