How does Line 3 benefit tribal communities?
Replacing Line 3 will not only protect the environment, invest billions to support jobs and Minnesota’s economy; it will also help benefit and support tribal communities across the state.
A key part of this is Enbridge’s Tribal Economic Opportunity Plan that commits the company to invest $100 million in tribal economic opportunities that includes contracts with tribal-owned businesses, a commitment to employ tribal members for construction and other aspects of work associated with the project and awarding grants for training and other programs that will benefit tribes and their members.
The broader goal is to connect tribal communities with the jobs and economic opportunities that come from working on key projects like this. Training people for a job as part of the Line 3 Replacement Project construction team will also prepare them for future jobs beyond the pipeline. Additionally, this ensures that people closest to the pipeline work close to home and businesses along the route see as much of the benefits as possible.
Gordon Construction, an American Indian-owned company, is just one examples of a native-owned company that stands to benefit from the project having already received a contract to work on the pipeline project.
Matt Gordon, Director of Operations for Gordon Construction and member of the White Earth Nation has expressed his support for the Line 3 and the jobs it will create for tribal communities:
“I support the Line 3 project because it makes sense to replace something that is decades old and depended on each day. I support the project because it is a chance for my company to hire more people from White Earth and other tribal communities to do work that pays great and teaches a life-long skill.”
As part of the exhaustive planning work for the pipeline, Enbridge is also funding one of the largest cultural surveys of its kind along the Line 3 Replacement Project route. This important work helps develop and identify important information about the area and is being led by the Fond du Lac band. Jim Jones Jr., lead project manager for the cultural survey along the Line 3 Replacement route recently spoke on WCCO’s Fluence Forum about the impact of the survey work, and future Line 3 Replacement construction work on tribal communities:
“Being involved in the Line 3 project has really opened my eyes to what are the opportunities for tribal members and community members to be involved.”
“Looking beyond just gaming and tribal enterprises, and that type of investment gives those communities that opportunity that wasn’t there before, and so that really has a fiscal impact on those tribal communities. And working with the tribes I have this last summer, I’ve seen that firsthand. I’ve seen tribal members who were making these wages and moved themselves up, got a lot of things taken care of and have money put away. I’ve seen the positive impact and that was really encouraging to see that. A project like this has never been done across tribal communities or with energy companies, and it really set a precedent. And for Fond du Lac to take the lead on that is really unique, working with Enbridge on that is the first of its kind in the nation.”
Enbridge is committed to making sure that the Line 3 Replacement Project creates jobs and future economic opportunities for tribal businesses and members while making sure we continue to have access to the safe, affordable energy that Minnesota needs.
Additional Information:
- Minnesota’s Infrastructure Union Welcomes Final Approval of Certificate of Need, Tribal Economic Opportunity Plan for Line 3 Replacement Pipeline
- Cultural survey by tribes for Enbridge pipeline could be largest effort of its kind
- American Indian-owned Gordon Construction could be transformed by Enbridge project
- Enbridge and FDL Band team up on potential job opportunities
- 5-2-19 Fluence Forum – Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline
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?
