Madison, Wis – During the contested case hearing yesterday on the Enbridge Line 5 Relocation Project, an engineer and pipeline integrity expert with nearly 40 years of experience – John Godfrey – offered testimony on the extensive analysis he completed examining the possibility of a product spill once the Line 5 Relocation Project is completed. Godfrey explained that the likelihood was “extremely remote”.
During his testimony, Godfrey explained, “…the design basis for the pipeline, both the chosen wall thickness and grade, it depth of cover, other mitigations they’ve (Enbridge) incorporated into the design and fact that they identify the hazards along the route and they built mitigations into the route essential mitigating threats of geo-hazards or threats endemic with water crossings, the POF (Probability of Failure) for this line is extremely remote because a lot of the work has already been done to address the threats…”
Godfrey went on answer whether he believed the Wisconsin Department of Resources properly studied the Line 5 Relocation proposal, saying, “This EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) is very thorough…it’s very complete. It the first one I’ve had to sit down in a hearing and discuss it, so I’d say it’s getting a lot of scrutiny and a lot of attention…the communications have been very detailed, very informed. I’d say that they (the DNR) did their due diligence and looked very thoroughly at the project.”
Economist Dr. Ike Bannon, who did the economic impact study for the project, testified that the total economic impact for the project in the U.S. is estimated at $1.3 billion without accounting for inflation. Dr. Brannon also testified that the Wisconsin economic impact from the project accounts for 1,100 additional jobs, approximately $49 million in labor income, and $135 million in total outcome. He further stated that the federal tax revenue from the project will be $78 million.
The contest case hearing continues through October 3, with Enbridge and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources experts testifying on the project over the next two weeks.
The hearing is a result of opponents of the project initiating the “contested case” process challenging the permits issued by the Wisconsin DNR for the Line 5 relocation project. The challenge comes even though the DNR spent more than four years compiling and analyzing data, held multiple public hearings and comment periods, and relied on the most state-of-the-art modeling available to make their decision. A nearly 900-page DNR environmental impact statement scientifically and legally justified the issuance of project permits. The DNR also included 231 conditions on the permits to require the strongest environmental standards possible.
Line 5 is unique because it not only moves crude oil that is refined into transportation fuels, but it also transports natural gas liquids that are made into propane. In fact, a public comment submitted to the DNR by major propane supplier Plains Midstream sent a critical warning that a rejection of the Line 5 relocation project would likely send Wisconsin into a propane state of emergency, leading to supply shortages and massive price increases.
During the Wisconsin DNR’s permitting process, over two dozen of Wisconsin’s leading organizations representing farmers, small businesses, labor unions and papermakers submitted comments in favor of the relocation project. Those groups included the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Propane Gas Association, Wisconsin Building Trades Council, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Independent Businesses, Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin Paper Council, Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, Wisconsin Pipe Trades, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Cooperative Network, Dairy Business Association, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Building Trades Council of South Central Wisconsin, Construction Business Group, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139, Midwest Food Products Association, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Northern Wisconsin Building and Construction Trades Council and Teamsters Local 346. In fact, an analysis of public records found that Wisconsinites supported the Line 5 relocation project by a 2-to-1 margin during the DNR comment period in 2022.
