MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is investigating a spill of crude oil from a pipeline along Enbridge Energy’s Line 6 in the town of Oakland, about four miles east of the village of Cambridge in Jefferson County.
On Nov. 11, the DNR received a report from Enbridge of a two-gallon spill of crude oil at Enbridge’s Cambridge Station. Enbridge also notified the National Response Center (NRC) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA).
In immediate response to this notification, the DNR conducted a site visit the same day the spill was reported, Nov. 11, which continued through Nov. 12. The DNR followed up again onsite on Dec. 6 to ensure appropriate response actions were being taken by Enbridge.
On Nov. 14, Enbridge revised the estimated spill quantity from two gallons to three barrels (126 gallons).
On Dec. 13, Enbridge again revised the estimated spill quantity from three barrels to 1,650 barrels (69,300 gallons) based on field investigation, observations and data available at the time. The DNR plans to conduct another site visit within the next week.
Under Wisconsin law, entities that cause environmental contamination are responsible for reporting and remediating the contamination. Enbridge is providing weekly updates to the DNR regarding the investigation and cleanup progress.
As investigation and cleanup is an iterative process, the DNR continues to evaluate appropriate next steps, including any potential enforcement actions such as a corrective action order.
The DNR will share additional information, including technical reports, communications between the DNR and Enbridge, and Enbridge’s weekly updates, online as they become available via the DNR’s Bureau for Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System (BRRTS) in case 02-28-595980.
