Full Notification

Notice to Bad River Community

On Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 - The Bad River Band will be hosting an Emergency Response training exercise on the Bad River Reservation from 8:30AM until 2:30PM. This training exercise will be facilitated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, and field deployment activities conducted by Enbridge Energy and contractors. Other invitees to this exercise will include various local, state, and federal agencies who have roles in responding to oil and hazardous material spill emergencies on or near the Reservation.

The goals of the exercise are, first, to practice a “Unified Command” approach to emergency response where multiple agencies cooperate to make safe and successful decisions. The second goal is to practice the check-in of individuals, assets, and equipment onto Reservation lands. Field deployment activities will be taking place in the Bad River near the powwow grounds and on the roads surrounding that area. Please understand that while this training exercise is important, the safety of those participating will ultimately be the day’s objective, so please try to avoid these areas. Thank you for your cooperation.

Locations Affected and Temporary Closures:

US Hwy 2: From approximately 7:00AM to 9:00AM and 2:00PM to 3:00PM, US Hwy 2 and the roads in Old Odanah, WI, will experience heavier than normal traffic, with large equipment entering and exiting roadways.

Government Rd. Tribal Boat Launch - The field portion of the exercise will require use of the entire boat launch off Government Rd from approximately 9:00AM to 3:00PM. Community members, please instead use the White River boat launch on the 23rd for travel upriver (south). The Bad River, between the Government Rd. boat launch and Old US Hwy 2 bridge crossing supports in Odanah, WI: will be closed in both directions from approximately 9:00AM to 3:00PM. The intersection of Government Rd and Miller Rd will have emergency response vehicles, equipment, and personal vehicles parked along the roadsides. There will also be heavy foot traffic in the location of the boat launch/this intersection.

Old US Hwy 2/Old Odanah Rd area: From approximately 7:00AM to 3:00PM, Old US Hwy 2 and all other roads in the Old Odanah area will be closed to thru travel just west of St Mary Catholic Church in Odanah, and east of the powwow grounds. Community members living in Diaperville, please instead travel west down Caville Rd to reach US Hwy 2 for your usual Tuesday commute.

*Credentialed media personnel will be allowed to view the exercise from near the powwow grounds, but for safety reasons will not be allowed in areas where prior safety authorizations would be needed. Any questions may be directed to Tribal Chairman Robert Blanchard or Tribal Vice-Chairman Patrick Bigboy. Miigwech. All public information about the event itself will come from Bad River’s Media Content Specialist Jordan Bigboy.