Minnesota Supreme Court won’t review Line 3 approvals

The Minnesota Supreme Court has denied requests to reconsider several key approvals for Enbridge’s Line 3 replacement project.

Oppponents had asked the state’s highest court to review the pipeline’s Certificate of Need, Route Permit and Environmental Impact Statement following a June decision by the Minnesota Court of Appeals upholding the actions. The Supreme Court declined petitions to review the decisions on Tuesday.

Winona LaDuke, Executive Director of Honor the Earth, called it a sad day for Minnesota, saying "the rights of a Canadian corporation continue to prevail over the laws of nature and the human rights of Anishinaabe people."

"That a court would rule there is no environmental impact when the rivers have been sucked dry and scientists are declaring a Code Red for the planet is deeply disturbing. A crime is being committed in front of us all. And now Enbridge is set to make a profit off the destruction of our north," LaDuke said in a statement to the media, referring to the Canadian source of the oil that will flow through the line.

However, Enbridge said the decisions have been reaffirmed multiple times and said it is pleased with the decision.

"The Line 3 replacement project is safety and maintenance driven, and it replaces an aging pipeline with a safer one made of thicker steel with more advanced coatings, helping to protect Minnesota’s environment for generations to come. It is the most studied pipeline project in Minnesota history," an Enbridge statement said.

Enbridge said the project is nearly complete, and the company expects the new Line 3 to be in service in the fourth quarter of the year. It said the project has spent more than $287 million with tribal nations, citizens, communities, and contractors.

Pipeline opponents are planning another rally against Line 3 on Wednesday at the state capitol.