State Seeks Public Comment on Line 3

Under the authority of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the State of Minnesota’s draft environmental impact statement for Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 pipeline project was issued May 15. A public comment period will be held through July 10, including 22 public meetings in counties through which the proposed pipeline or an alternative route is under consideration.

The draft environmental impact statement and schedule of public meetings are available at: mn.gov/commerce/ energyfacilities/line3. The draft will be available at the public information meetings and a public library in each county (listed on the Line 3 webpage).

Enbridge Energy has applied for a certificate of need and route permit from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission to construct its proposed Line 3 pipeline. A draft environmental impact statement has been prepared by the Minnesota Commerce Department in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Enbridge is proposing to construct a new pipeline, replacing its existing Line 3. As proposed, the new pipeline would follow the existing Line 3 from the North Dakota border to an Enbridge terminal in Clearbrook, then follow a new right-of-way, south of the existing Line 3, ending in Superior, Wisconsin. As proposed by Enbridge, the existing Line 3 would be abandoned and left in place.

Development of the draft environmental impact statement is based on the scoping order that identifed key topics and alternative routes for analysis. The scoping process also involved a public review and comment period, including 12 public meetings in April-May 2016.

Public meetings in June will provide the opportunity for Minnesotans to learn about the draft environmental impact statement and provide oral or written comments for the record. The comments will be used to prepare the final environmental impact statement, which will inform the Public Utilities Commission’s decisions on Enbridge’s proposal.

Government-to-government consultations between the State of Minnesota and the tribal governments in the state are ongoing as part of the environmental review process.

After completion of the final environmental impact statement, public hearings will be held by an administrative law judge, who will submit a report to the Public Utilities Commission with findings of facts, conclusions of law and recommendations. The Commission is expected to decide on Enbridge’s certificate of need and route permit applications in the spring of 2018.

Written comments on the draft environmental impact statement will be accepted through Monday, July 10, 2017. Comments may be emailed, mailed or faxed.

Mail: Minnesota Department of Commerce Attn: Jamie MacAlister
Environmental Review Manager 85 7th Place East, Suite 280
St. Paul MN 55101-2198
Email: Pipeline.Comments@state.mn.us Fax: 651-539-0109

Two meetings will be held in Mille Lacs Band communities
Monday, June 12, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Grand Casino Hinckley
Monday, June 12, 6 – 9 p.m. East Lake Community Center

More meetings in Central Minnesota
– Thursday, June 8, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Downtown Fair Building, Floodwood
– Thursday, June 8, 6 – 9 p.m., Central Lakes College Classroom E54
– Tuesday, June 12, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., Cloquet, Fond du Lac Community College
– Tuesday, June 12, 6 – 9 p.m., Intercontinental Hotel Saint Paul
– Wednesday, June 14, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Staples Community Center
– Wednesday, June 14, 6 – 9 p.m. Little Falls, Initiative Foundation
– Thursday, June 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Foley, Henry’s Cater- ing and Banquet Hall
– Thursday, June 15, 6 – 9 p.m. Milaca, Phoenix Hotel and Banquet Center
– Friday, June 16, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Mora, The Grand Event Center

For additional dates and locations, see mn.gov/commerce/ energyfacilities/line3.