Hundreds of people from across the Midwest gathered along the shores of Gitchi-gami (Lake Superior) in Duluth, Minnesota, this afternoon. They came together to voice opposition to Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project. First Nations, environmental groups, and communities in the Great Lakes region have been fighting this replacement plan for the past five years.
Line 3 is a tar sands oil pipeline. Tar sands are a mixture of sand, clay, water, and a thick substance called bitumen. The bitumen is extracted from the mixture to produce gasoline and other petroleum products. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, the process of mining tar sands can be costly and intensive. It requires more water to process than traditional oil. Most of the water required for this process is polluted with toxic substances and requires storage. Additionally, a gallon of tar sands-produced gasoline emits about 15% more carbon dioxide than one made from conventional oil.
Yesterday, The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency denied Enbridge’s request for a 401 Certification on the replacement on Line 3. Enbridge needs this approval because they have submitted a permit that may result in discharge into U.S. waters. Enbridge can reapply for this certification once they have included additional information to show compliance with water quality standards. They have already been granted a Certificate of Need and a Route Permit by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
If this project is implemented, oil would be pumped from Canada to Superior, WI. The new project would have an annual average capacity of 760,000 barrels per day, according to the PUC. Protesters who oppose the project say it threatens to reduce indigenous rights, exacerbates climate change, damage wild rice beds, and pose a risk of destructive spills. The Stop Line 3 resistance website explains that because the project crosses indigenous lands without consent, it would violate the fundamental principles of sovereignty guaranteed to the tribal nations by the United States Constitution.
According to its website, Enbridge plans to have the new Line 3 Project in service by the late 2020, but they still require various permit approvals before the project can be completed.
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