BIOBY Line 3 Statement

“Once again people across Minnesota have come together to participate in this process and show strong support for this important project. Minnesotans know Line 3 has been reviewed like no other project of its kind and passed every test. Not only does it make sense to replace old infrastructure with something better, this project will immediately bring new jobs and spending to help our communities economically recover. We are confident this process is nearing the end and we will soon be able to focus on construction that will be good for Minnesota and even better for the environment.” – Susan Goudge, member of Minnesotans for Line 3.

Last week, Minnesota’s came together to participate in an electronic petition in support of Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Pipeline Project. Comments submitted by Line 3 supporters to the MPCA focused on the agency’s draft 401 Water Quality Certification and importance of replacing an aging part of Minnesota’s energy infrastructure. The comments will be reviewed by the agency as part of their process to review and approve water quality permit applications submitted by Enbridge.

Better In Our Back Yard supports Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Pipeline Project and the initiative @Minnesotans for Line 3 has taken to promote education and impact this new infrastructure will have on our state’s economy.

Better In Our Back Yard (BIOBY) is pleased the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed to review the recent Minnesota Court of Appeals’ decision to reverse PolyMet’s Permit to Mine and dam safety permits.

This is excellent news for the future of industrial project development in the state of Minnesota. BIOBY supports responsible mining and industrial development and the state agencies who follow a comprehensive and rigorous process. We look forward to continued progress in advancing PolyMet’s project.

Better In Our Back Yard (BIOBY) is disappointed in today’s announcement from the Minnesota Court of Appeals on PolyMet’s air emissions permit, sending it back to state regulators for further unnecessary review.

BIOBY trusts PolyMet’s 15+ years of careful research, environmental review and planning conducted by PolyMet. The MPCA evaluated and granted PolyMet’s air emissions permit based on the actual size and scope of the proposed project. PolyMet has Minnesota’s best interests in mind and, when open, will create 350+ good-paying jobs for Minnesotan families. BIOBY believes that moving forward with the NorthMet Project is the right decision for Minnesota. 

BIOBY will continue to maintain our support of industrial development in Minnesota and PolyMet’s continual advancement to operation and production.

Better In Our Back Yard (BIOBY) supports PolyMet’s decision to petition the Minnesota Supreme Court in the recent Court of Appeals’ decision to remand PolyMet’s Permit to Mine and Dam Safety permits to a contested case.

BIOBY trusts the 15+ years of research, environmental review and planning conducted by PolyMet, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Because these decisions were based on scientific fact and represent PolyMet’s commitment to responsible mining, BIOBY believes that moving forward with the NorthMet Project is the right decision for Minnesota.

BIOBY will continue to maintain our support of industrial development in Minnesota and PolyMet’s continual advancement to operation and production.

Better In Our Back Yard is excited to hear of this week’s news that by a vote of 3-1, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) agreed that the revised environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project assessed the impacts of an oil spill in the Lake Superior watershed adequately. After further review, utility regulators concluded that a potential spill in the watershed “would be unlikely to reach the lake itself.”

After approving the revised EIS, the PUC reapproved both the Certificate of Need and Route Permit. All 3 decisions represent a huge step in moving forward with the remaining permit process.

As part of the last portion of Enbridge’s 1960s-vintage Line 3, which is currently operating at about half capacity due to integrity issues, this portion of the pipeline is in clear need of replacement. This project has been undergoing careful study and environmental review for over four years, making it the most studied pipeline project in Minnesota’s history.

The Line 3 replacement project has been evaluated to the highest standards in environmental reviews. It aims to ensure the continued safe transportation of the energy we all need and will create thousands of construction jobs. Better In Our Back Yard is proud to support Enbridge and an industry that continues to fight to make a positive impact to our economy and our state.

For more information, please visit the Duluth News Tribune article in the link below:

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/business/energy-and-mining/4919097-Minnesota-regulators-Environmental-review-of-Line-3-adequate?fbclid=IwAR1x7wB1STzlEgNm6PvGd4bn9bdedpQZQwau5mAGISNqZFiPTEH9j0e9HzY

The people of Minnesota value the responsible industry that moves our state, and our economy, forward. This isn’t just a ‘regional’ stance, it’s echoed throughout Minnesota. For more information, check out https://www.minnesotansforline3.com/.

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Better In Our Back Yard (BIOBY) supports PolyMet’s decision to file a petition for review to the Minnesota Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Court of Appeals decision announced earlier this week. The decision remanded the company’s Permit to Mine and dam safety permit to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for an unnecessary and time-consuming contested case hearing.

Monday’s decision also proposed a new rule that would have serious implications for our state’s permitting process and subsequent economic development. The new rule provides if there is any conflicting evidence on a material issue of fact—even if the agency previously considered the evidence —the agency is required to hold a contested case hearing. Instead of trusting the process, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ensured that the permitting process will become more cumbersome and challenging for all future projects.

BIOBY trusts the 15 years of scientific work and analysis by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). As reported recently, a statement from the DNR, “Notably, the Court’s opinion does not draw conclusions about the validity of the scientific analyses underlying the DNR’s decisions. We remain confident in the solid foundation of our technical work.” Throughout the process, PolyMet has proven its commitment to responsible mining. Moving forward with the NorthMet Project is the right decision for Minnesota.

BIOBY will continue to maintain our support of industrial development in Minnesota and PolyMet’s continual advancement to operation and production.

Better In Our Back Yard (BIOBY) is disappointed in today’s announcement that the Minnesota Court of Appeals has reversed PolyMet’s DNR-issued permit to mine and dam safety permit and has ordered the DNR to hold an unnecessary and time-consuming contested case hearing.

This ruling completely disregards and disrespects nearly 15 years of careful scientific research and planning by both government agencies and PolyMet as a tedious evaluation of some of the strictest environmental regulations in the country have been reviewed to ensure the protection of our precious natural resources.

Now, because project opponents in the Twin Cities are committed to derailing industrial development and economic opportunity in northeast Minnesota, an already long process will be drawn out further – barring a successful appeal to the state High Court — as the agencies waste time conducting a contested case hearing to review permits and documentation that have already been closely scrutinized and approved.

Instead of trusting the process, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ensured that the permitting process will become more uncertain, more cumbersome and more challenging for all future projects. This decision will have a negative impact on greater Minnesota and deter prospective investors from considering development in our state.

Better In Our Back Yard will continue to maintain our support of industrial development in Minnesota and PolyMet’s continual advancement to operation and production.

Better In Our Back Yard is pleased with the Public Utilities Commission’s quick decision to unanimously agree to advance the process for the Line 3 Replacement Project by asking the Commerce Department to conduct a further analysis of Enbridge’s revised EIS within 60 days. This decision represents forward progress for the first time in months.

North Dakota and Minnesota’s 330-mile portion is the last portion that will be replaced in a pipeline that spans over 1100 miles between Edmonton in Alberta, Canada and Superior, Wisconsin.

Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement project is the most thoroughly reviewed pipeline project in Minnesota’s history – it’s time to move forward with Line 3 Replacement Project that will energize the Northern Minnesota Economy and deliver safe transportation of crude oil.

Great news all around for Responsible Industrial Development in Northern Minnesota!