SAINT PAUL –The first public meetings on
the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Enbridge’s proposed Line 3
pipeline project will be held during the week of June 5.
Under
the authority of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and its
decisionmaking process, the State of Minnesota issued the draft EIS on May 15
for a public review and comment period that extends through July 10 and
includes 22 public meetings in the counties through which the proposed pipeline
or an alternative route is under consideration.
Meetings
will be held in Bagley and Grand Rapids on Tuesday, June 6; Park Rapids and
Cass Lake on Wednesday, June 7; Floodwood and Brainerd on Thursday, June 8; and
Wadena on Friday, June 9.
The
draft EIS and full schedule of public meetings are available at: mn.gov/commerce/energyfacilities/line3
Enbridge
Energy has applied for a certificate of need and route permit from the Public
Utilities Commission to construct its proposed Line 3 pipeline project. By
order of the Commission, a draft EIS has been prepared by the Minnesota
Commerce Department in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to evaluate the potential
human and environmental impacts.
The
purpose of the upcoming meetings is to inform the public about the contents of
the draft EIS and to provide an opportunity for the public to submit comments,
either oral or written, to help prepare the final EIS for the Public Utilities
Commission’s decision making on Enbridge’s proposed project.
Each
meeting will begin with an open house featuring information stations on
specific topics in the draft EIS. Staffed by agency representatives, the
stations will allow Minnesotans to learn about the contents of the draft EIS.
The
open house will be followed by a brief presentation about the purpose of the EIS
and the regulatory review process before the Public Utilities Commission’s
final decisions.
Each
meeting will conclude with an open comment session, allowing members of the
public to offer input on the draft EIS, which will be transcribed by a court reporter
for the official record. The time available for each comment will depend on the
number of people requesting to speak. There is also the option of providing
comments individually to a court reporter during the open house.
In
addition, Minnesotans can submit written comments, either at the meeting or via
email, fax or regular mail. All comments for the record, whether oral or
written, will be considered in preparing the final EIS.
Government-to-government
consultations between the State of Minnesota and the tribal governments in the
state are also ongoing as part of the environmental review process.
After
completion of the final EIS, a series of public hearings will be held later in
2017 by an administrative law judge from the Minnesota Office of Administrative
Hearings to address Enbridge’s certificate of need and route permit
applications. At these public hearings, Minnesotans will be able to submit
comments, present evidence and ask questions.
The
administrative law judge 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.
Enbridge
is proposing to construct a new oil pipeline in Minnesota, replacing its
existing Line 3. As proposed, the new pipeline would follow the existing Line 3
from the North Dakota border near Hallock to an Enbridge terminal in
Clearbrook. From Clearbrook eastward, the proposed pipeline would follow a new
right-of-way, south of the existing Line 3, ending at an existing terminal in
Superior, Wisconsin. As proposed by Enbridge, the existing Line 3 would be
abandoned and left in place after the new pipeline is installed, tested and operational.
Written
comments on the draft EIS 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
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
