Concerned Citizens Have Their Voices Heard at a Meeting About Enbridge Line 3
Meetings Are Being Held Across the State of Minnesota
Enbridge Energy is proposing to construct a new 340 mile oil pipeline to replace an old Oil pipeline, called Line 3.
“This Line 3 replacement project does is it modernizes the pipeline, so the best way to continue to keep the Environment and the community safe is to replace it,” said Jennifer Smith, the Community Engagement Manager of Enbridge.
But not everyone agrees replacing the pipeline is a good idea. A 5,000 page draft of the Environmental impact statement was released, detailing the impacts the proposed project could have on the Environment, communities surrounding the line, and jobs.
“The draft evaluates what the applicant has submitted as their application for the routes and then evaluates alternative routes that are potentially in the area, and the impacts of all of those, environmentally and socioeconomically,” said Jen Fox who works for the Department of Commerce for the State of Minnesota.
And community members were invited to attend meetings across the state, to give their opinions and concerns on the document. One of those meetings was held at Fond Du Lac Community College in Cloquet. Some opposed to the pipeline raised concerns on what would happen to the old line 3, and how the new line could impact the environment and tribal communities.
“I want to see Enbridge clean up its mess, I want them to be good neighbors to all of us that are here, and we’d like them to really clean up their mess and provide good jobs for good Minnisotans and repair and clean up their old pipelines,” said Winona LaDuke, the Executive Director for Honor the Earth.
Supporters cited job creation as a major motivating factor to back the project.
“One of the things they talk about is temporary jobs, and that the jobs are going to people out of the area, which on the pipelines up here, all of the members that are local go to work on these jobs, so that’s what we want changed in the statement that it’s local people that are going to be working on these pipelines,” said Rick Cannata, the Marketing Manager for LIUNA.
Enbridge representatives are hoping to be able to find a solution and build a pipeline on their preferred route that can safely transport crude oil.
“Over 80 percent of our preferred route or our proposed route is co-located with other Utilities and we do that to minimize the impact whether it be sensitive areas, highly populated areas, so we feel our preferred route which we have spent thousands and thousands of hours on surveying and developing, is really the best route to take,” said Smith.
But those who oppose the line say the real solution is leaving crude oil behind, and investing in renewable energy.
“The money they want to invest in the pipeline should be invested in renewables, the workforce that they say is going to be generated could easily be doubled tripled in renewable energy,” said Liz Jaakola, a member of the Fond Du Lac band.
Whether you’re for or against the project, concerned community members still have time to attend meetings held across the state. The Last one will be in Bemidji on June 22nd.
