Facing stiff opposition from state lawmakers, Dane County officials are giving up on a plan to force Enbridge Energy to provide stronger assurances that the company will conduct a proper cleanup if its crude oil pipeline fails.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Enbridge is tripling the capacity of its underground pipeline, which runs from Minnesota to Illinois. The pipeline crosses into the northeastern portion of Dane County, where Enbridge is planning to put a new pump station.
Environmental advocates have pushed the county to require Enbridge to set up a $25 million cleanup trust fund to protect against environmental harm should a crude oil spill occur.
But county officials said Enbridge could sue, and probably win, if required to set up the trust fund. Without the support of state lawmakers, county officials said the trust fund was a nonstarter.
