Energy infrastructure company Enbridge has reached a $275,000 settlement with the Wisconsin Department of Justice over a 2019 incident involving a spill in Jefferson County. The agreement addresses the company’s delayed reporting of a hazardous substance release from its Line 13 pipeline.
In April 2019, a faulty valve on the pipeline in Fort Atkinson led to a release that Enbridge failed to report to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) until July 2020, well beyond the state’s requirement for immediate notification through its 24-hour hotline.
The spill involved approximately 1,386 gallons of diluent liquids, which are flammable and used to thin heavy crude oil. This substance contaminated local groundwater and soil, according to previous reports by WPR. Attorney General Josh Kaul emphasized the significance of adhering to Wisconsin’s Spills Law, noting that compliance is essential for environmental protection.
Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner expressed the company’s satisfaction with the settlement in a statement, noting that the leak was identified and addressed in the spring of 2019. She stated, “Ongoing monitoring continues to confirm product released remains confined to Enbridge-owned property. Regular sampling has found no impact to nearby drinking water wells. Enbridge is committed to ongoing restoration of this site. We will work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as monitoring continues.”
The financial penalty, approved by Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge William V. Gruber, includes fines and other fees. This incident is not isolated; in 2024, another spill occurred in Jefferson County due to a valve leak on Enbridge’s Line 6 pipeline, resulting in the release of approximately 69,000 gallons of oil. The age of the valve was cited as a factor in that spill.
The settlement arises amidst Enbridge’s efforts to reroute its Line 5 pipeline around the Bad River Tribe’s reservation in northern Wisconsin—a project met with criticism due to the company’s history of spills in the region. Enbridge claims to have invested significantly in enhancing the safety of its pipeline operations.
Previously, Enbridge faced legal issues in Wisconsin when it violated environmental standards during the construction of pipelines in 2007 and 2008, leading to a $1.1 million settlement with the DOJ for over 100 violations affecting wetlands and waterways.
