As Governor, Legislators Prepare for Another Special Session, Another Northern Minnesota Mayor Urges Approval of Line 3 Permits

AVERAGE PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS IN 14 “LINE 3 COUNTIES” WHO HAVE FILED UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS IS STILL OVER 26%

(THIEF RIVER FALLS, MINN) Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer is the latest local elected official to urge approval of permits for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement project. This comes as Governor Walz is expected to call legislators back for another special legislative session next week. While Governor Walz and lawmakers will try again to pass a bonding bill, Holmer said the Line 3 project would immediately put more than 4,000 people to work as soon as this year.

The latest information from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) shows the average percentage of workers who have filed unemployment insurance claims in the 14 “Line 3 Counties” is now above 26%.

“Our elected leaders have spent most of this year not being able to agree on things as the economy gets worse each week,” said Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer. “We need Governor Walz to make sure Line 3 gets approved because it is the only guaranteed way to change things this year. The economic stimulus generated by the Line 3 project will be important not only for Thief River Falls, but for all the communities along the route. Secondary spending along the line will be a huge benefit for our towns and cities whether at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores and more.”

Next week Governor Walz is expected to extend the state’s COVID-19 peacetime state of emergency for an additional 30 days. This would automatically trigger another special legislative session during which lawmakers would likely try again to pass a bonding bill that would use taxpayer dollars to fund projects.

To replace the aging line, Enbridge will invest approximately $2.6 billion to fund work across 14 counties. The project will immediately create more than 4,000 good paying union jobs. Enbridge has already spent more than $100 million with tribal communities to help engage their members to connect them with construction jobs. When fully completed, the replaced Line 3 will also create additional tax revenue for counties and school districts across Northern Minnesota.

The Line 3 project has been under review by state and federal agencies and regulators for almost six years. It officially started in 2015 during the Obama-Biden Administration when Enbridge submitted their application for replacement of Line 3 to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission as part of its integrity and maintenance driven program.

In 2016, Enbridge entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency, both led by Obama-Biden appointees. As part of this agreement, the U.S. Government required Enbridge to replace the Line 3 pipeline. On June 28, 2018, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved the Certificate of Need and approved the Route Permit.

In June of this year, instead of issuing key permits that would have allowed Line 3 construction to start, the Walz Administration directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to hold a contested case hearing that has delayed the permitting decision until November.

The decision to hold the contested case process has delayed a final decision on the 401 permits potentially until November 14^th. At the same time, work by agencies to complete permits continues, despite Governor Walz’s recent decision to have the Department of Commerce legally challenge the PUC’s decision to again issue the Certificate of Need. If approved by the MPCA, the water-related permits will then be sent to the Army Corps of Engineers for final approval. If the Army Corps approves the permit, construction will start as soon as possible.

“It’s a dirty shame that after five years we still can’t get this project approved,” Holmer said. “Line 3 has passed every test and Minnesota is the only section of the line that has not been replaced. The workers are ready and there is nothing left to study or review. Our communities are ready for work to start and I strongly urge Governor Walz help us move this forward.”

Latest average unemployment insurance information for Line 3 Counties as of October 30^th

County		Percentage
Kittson		11.8%
Beltrami		25.3%
Marshall		17.3%
Pennington		25.2%
Polk		22.2%
Red Lake		226%
Clearwater		30.4%
Hubbard		28%
Cass		35%
Crow Wing		30.5%
Aitkin		29.3%
Carlton		31.1%
St. Louis		31.6%
Wadena		27.4%

AVERAGE		26.26%

Percentage of people filing for unemployment insurance as a share of the 2019 available labor force

Data provided by Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
https://mn.gov/deed/data/data-tools/unemployment-insurance-statistics/

Contact: Susan Goudge
Susan@Minnesotansforline3.com | 218-556-3617

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

“It’s long overdue for those making decisions in this state to pause and look at the facts. We cannot afford another appeal. Too much time and taxpayer dollars have been used to repeatedly determine that Line 3 is necessary.

If we do not approve Line 3 and get started soon, the people of Minnesota will deserve an explanation about why the most studied pipeline project in our state’s history – that literally checks every box – was stalled at a time when our economy needs it so much.”

Rich Siegert, Rochester Post Bulletin

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

“Let’s get one thing clear: Minnesota needs Line 3.

Replacing Line 3 will bring thousands of jobs to our state at a time when we desperately need it. While our legislature stalls on a bonding bill and other forms of relief, how about Governor Walz and his administration making an easy decision to stop delaying a project that will bring thousands of jobs to northern Minnesota?”

Craig Gaasvig, Grand Forks Herald

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

“My family has farmed in Clearwater County for 85 years. As farmers, we take pride in our land and work hard to take care of the soil and water around us. We also take very seriously planning our farming operations, including rotating our crops and maintaining our equipment.

For 48 years, we’ve hosted six pipelines on our property and have always had a good relationship with the company. In 2014, we received a letter from Enbridge about the company’s intention to replace its Line 3 pipeline. Since that initial letter, we’ve worked with Enbridge on the easement for the replacement pipe and have considered our farming plans to accommodate construction.”

Brian Emmel, Bemidji Pioneer

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

“In trying times like these, you would think local governments would try to work together to get things done. The fact of the matter is, they can’t — or they won’t. The gridlock in our state house is at an all-time high, and neither side seems willing to concede anything to the other. You would think they would care more about the people than these political chess matches; but for the most part, that’s not the case. Minnesota needs jobs more than ever — as well as the hope that things can get better. As we struggle with COVID19, the changes it has forced upon us have left too many of our businesses to drop like flies, with more people applying for unemployment every day.”

Dave Langfeld, Duluth News Tribune

Letters to the Editor Supporting Line 3:

We can’t afford to wait any longer for Line 3

Minnesota needs Line 3 project

Nearly six years to replace Line 3 is too long

Support Minnesotans by supporting Line 3

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