Madison, Wis – Wisconsin’s Agricultural, Labor and Business leaders praised today’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announcement that they have issued the Federal permits necessary to move forward with the Line 5 relocation in northwestern Wisconsin.
“Today’s decision is a huge step towards putting the 700 union men and women that will build the Line 5 relocation project to work,” said Kent Miller, President and Business Manager of the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council. “We’re pleased to see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed with what we have been saying for over five years – that the Line 5 relocation can be built safely and in a way that will protect the environment.”
The USACE’s decision comes as the DNR continues with its contested case process initiated by opponents of the Line 5 relocation project challenging the Wisconsin DNR’s decision to issue the state level permits needed to begin construction of the project. The DNR issued permits in November of 2024, following over four years of review, multiple public hearings and public comments periods, the analysis of thousands of pages of data, studies and modeling, and after the issuance of a nearly 900-page Environmental Impact Statement. Over a dozen public and private sector scientists and environmental and construction experts testified during the contested case hearings in September affirming the safety of the Line 5 project and defending the DNR permits.
“Wisconsin farmers have been warning that without Line 5 our state’s agricultural community risked losing the propane and affordable energy they depend on to produce the food our state and nation need to survivor,” stated Chad Zuleger, Executive Director of the Dairy Business Association. “Today farmers across Wisconsin thank the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for their diligent and thorough review of the Line 5 relocation project and their conclusion that the project can be completed within U.S. environmental laws and regulations.”
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 2024 USACE public comment period, over 11,500 Wisconsinites signed a petition to the USACE in support of the Line 5 relocation project. In addition, dozens of organizations representing over 100,000 Wisconsin farmers, union workers and small businesses submitted comment letters in support of the project. Those organizations include: APEX, Centergy, Construction Business Group, Cooperative Network, Dairy Business Association, Five Skies Training and Consulting, Futurewood, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Growmark, Hawk Industries, Johnson Timber, Lakehead Constructors Inc, LK1 Services, Michels Corporation, Midwest Food Products Association, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, Northern Clearing, Teamsters Local 346, Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Propane Gas Association, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, Wisconsin Building Trades Council, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, Wisconsin Fuel and Retail Association, Wisconsin Independent Businesses, Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, Wisconsin Paper Council, Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers, Wisconsin Pork Association, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139, and Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now.
