Enbridge Wins Key U.S. Army Corps Permit for Line 5 Reroute

Enbridge Inc. has been granted a key federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its planned Line 5 reroute project in northern Wisconsin, clearing a significant regulatory hurdle for one of the Midwest’s most closely watched pipeline developments.

Enbridge Inc. has been granted a key federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its planned Line 5 reroute project in northern Wisconsin, clearing a significant regulatory hurdle for one of the Midwest’s most closely watched pipeline developments.

The Corps’ St. Paul District issued the individual permit on Oct. 29, authorizing construction-related impacts to waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act and Rivers and Harbors Act. The agency confirmed that the project complies with key federal laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.

Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute proposal would move approximately 40 miles of pipeline to avoid the Bad River Reservation, maintaining crude oil and natural gas liquids service between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. The project, estimated at around $450 million, is intended to improve safety, modernize infrastructure, and preserve energy reliability for the upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.

“The approval of the Enbridge Line 5 reroute application is a great success and will advance the President’s energy dominance agenda for America,” said Hon. Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. “This permit decision demonstrates the Corps’ role in ensuring a balanced approach to infrastructure development and environmental regulation.”

The permit covers activities within federally regulated waters but does not govern pipeline routing or the type of product transported—matters that remain under state and tribal jurisdiction.

With this approval, Enbridge can move forward with site preparation and construction planning, pending final state and local authorizations. The company has faced multiple legal and regulatory challenges from environmental and tribal groups since first filing for the reroute, which aims to maintain uninterrupted service on a line that currently transports roughly 540,000 bpd.