Groups Challenge PUC’s Latest Flawed Line 3 Approval in Court

Contact: 

Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org, 914-261-4626

St. Paul, MN -- Opponents of Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 pipeline filed a lawsuit with the Court of Appeals today challenging the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) approval of permits for the project. The PUC reissued permits for the controversial tar sands pipeline in May, ignoring serious risks to Minnesota’s water resources, as well as the fact that demand for oil is at an unprecedented low and unlikely to rebound any time soon, with the high-cost Canadian tar sands that would run through Line 3 being hit the hardest

The challenge also follows the release of an audit by the Office of the Legislative Auditor which found that the PUC mishandled public hearings on the pipeline. The report confirmed that PUC staff “were not adequately prepared to administer some Line 3 meetings” and that they “did not use consistent practices when interacting with the public during its Line 3 meetings.”  

The joint appeal was filed by Honor the Earth, the Sierra Club, and the Red Lake and White Earth Bands. The Youth Climate Intervenors and Friends of the Headwaters also plan to file separate appeals. This morning, representatives from the Sierra Club and Youth Climate Intervenors gathered at the Minnesota State Court of Appeals to send a message to Enbridge: “See you in court.”

“Yet again, the PUC has refused to acknowledge the reality that Line 3 would pose untenable costs to Minnesota, all to deliver tar sands oil we don’t need," said Sierra Club North Star Chapter Director Margaret Levin. "Their bad decision -- ignoring state's agencies' recommendations, and based on a faulty process -- would be devastating for Minnesota's clean water and communities. The Court must reject the PUC's decision once and for all." 

“PUC Commissioner Matt Schuerger is the only commissioner in touch with the reality of the failing tar sands oil industry, the rapid electrification of the transportation sector and the imminent threats of climate change. Honor the Earth is happy to join coalition partners once again in appealing the PUC’s approval of the Line 3 Certificate of Need and Route Permit,” said Winona LaDuke, co-founder and Executive Director of Honor the Earth. “After the recent scathing Minnesota Legislative Auditors Report on the PUC’s inconsistent and changing rules for public access and tribal sovereignty, it is clear that it is not serving the best interests of all Minnesotans, most of whom are opposed to Line 3.”

“The Youth Climate Intervenors have filed our appeal twice before, and have since witnessed the devastating impacts of climate change in communities around the world, and a global uprising against racial injustice. Line 3 would deepen inequalities by carrying on a legacy of broken treaties and violence against tribal nations in northern Minnesota, as well as accelerating climate change at the same rate as 50 new coal-fired power plants. For young people, fighting back is not a choice, it is our only option,” said Youth Climate Intervenor Sarah Harper.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.


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