“If the gases come up, of course, it really won’t be an issue because I won’t be alive to figure that out.”

Fort Atkinson, WI
16 years on the pipeline

“I used to be a little house in the woods, a cabin, and I’m now the little house on the prairie,” says Jill Gierach, describing her property in Fort Atkinson following encroachment by the Enbridge oil company and subsequent removal of trees surrounding her home. Gierach lives so close to the pipeline, in fact, that she fears for the physical safety of her family during any potential pipeline leaks or ruptures. . “I take most of the liability of that pipeline going through my property,” states Gierach. And in reference to the volatile, flammable, toxic chemicals that would be released during a rupture, Gierach says, “if the gases come up, of course, it really won’t be an issue because I won’t be alive to figure that out.”

Beyond the potential safety impacts on her family, Gierach’s primary concern is the use of eminent domain by the Enbridge company to take an easement or even her family’s property. “Our state government would have had a little verbiage [sneaked] into a bill that allows a foreign company for private gain to take over that eminent domain,” says Gierach. She believes it is unfair that Enbridge should be allowed to take away from her and profit from the land that she owns.

Jill’s right.  Sign the petition here.