Wisconsin Sees Largest Oil and Gas Spill in Over 50 Years Following Enbridge Line 5 Leak
An Enbridge Line 5 pipeline leak in Iron County, Wisconsin, released 1.3 million gallons of natural gas liquids, marking the largest reported oil and gas spill in the state in over 50 years.
Milwaukee, WI, September 9, 2026 —
A significant leak from Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline in Iron County, Wisconsin, has resulted in the release of an estimated 1.3 million gallons of natural gas liquids. This incident represents the largest reported oil and gas spill to occur in the state in more than half a century.
The leak occurred on the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, which transports crude oil and natural gas liquids across the Great Lakes region. The exact cause of the rupture and the specific date of the leak were not detailed in the provided summary.
The volume of the released natural gas liquids, totaling 1.3 million gallons, places this event as the most substantial oil and gas spill recorded in Wisconsin for over 50 years. The environmental impact and the cleanup efforts following the incident are expected to be extensive.
Details regarding the response from Enbridge, regulatory agencies, or the state of Wisconsin were not provided in the summary. Information about any immediate containment measures, investigations into the leak’s origin, or potential penalties has not been made available. The contractor responsible for the pipeline’s maintenance or repair was also not identified.
Further updates on the situation in Iron County are anticipated as authorities and Enbridge assess the full scope of the spill and implement remediation strategies.
Story summarized from the original created by Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio on urbanmilwaukee.com, see more information here.
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