What steps have been taken to approve the Line 3 project?
The Line 3 Replacement Project continues to go through an extensive review process that has already taken more than four years. The review process was created to make sure the project is safe, necessary, and beneficial for Minnesota. This process has included:
- Support from both the Obama and Trump administrations;
- 65 public meetings about the project;
- Support by two Administrative Law Judges;
- Unanimous approval by the Minnesota Public Utilities commission;
- Over 10,000 signatures on a letter of support delivered to Governor Walz;
- Resolutions passed or letters of support submitted by 90 elected officials, cities, townships & counties;
- Public comments delivered by State, Federal & Local officials (38 in support and 3 in opposition);
- The most extensive Environmental Impact Study in Minnesota history related to pipeline projects;
- An agreement reached with the Fond du Lac Band for the replacement pipeline to cross the only Native American reservation on the route;
- Between 2013-2015, Enbridge logged 242,125 field hours – equivalent to 27 years of study surveying wetlands and waterbodies, cultural resources, and threatened/endangered species, as well as countless consultations between federal and state agencies, landowners, and local units of government.
- There have been 5,400 contacts with private landowners in 2017; Enbridge now has 99% landowner agreement with only 2 holdouts.
Line 3 has been the most planned and studied pipeline project in Minnesota’s history. What is even more clear through the process is that it’s time to build Line 3.
Additional Information:
The Truth about Line 3
With so much information being shared and gathered about the Line 3 replacement project, it’s important to help everyone stay focused on the facts, address any misconceptions, and make sure that information about Line 3 is grounded in truth.
Minnesotans for Line 3 has identified some common questions about the project along with information, facts, and other background that answer those important questions.
Approval Process
Who made the decision to replace Line 3, and when?
What steps have been taken to approve the Line 3 project?
What does the Consent Decree from the federal government to replace Line 3 mean?
How do actions by Line 3 opponents fit with Minnesota’s tradition of being a civically respectful community?
How many public comments were received in support and opposition to Line 3, and where were they from?
What do Minnesota’s refineries say about the need for oil from Line 3?
Environment & Safety
How do pipelines like Line 3 compare to other ways of transporting oil in terms of safety and efficiency?
If we’re transitioning to greener energy, why build more fossil fuel infrastructure like Line 3?
How can you care about protecting water and natural resources and support Line 3?
How in depth was the study to determine the environmental impact of Line 3?
What will happen to Line 3 if it is not replaced?
How do we know something like Line 3’s 1991 accident in Grand Rapids, MN won’t happen again?
What was the extent of the drilling fluid spill at the Willow River construction site, and what was done to correct it?
