Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
St. Paul, MN -- Today, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (PCA) dealt yet another setback to Enbridge’s controversial proposed Line 3 tar sands pipeline when it denied a key water crossing permit for the pipeline. This could set the timeline for the proposed pipeline back by six months or longer.
The denial comes as hundreds of people plan to march and rally in Duluth tomorrow to call for Governor Walz and state agencies to do everything in their power to stop the pipeline.
In response, Sierra Club North Star Chapter Director Margaret Levin released the following statement:
"We applaud the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for today's decision to deny Enbridge's water crossing permit for their proposed tar sands pipeline, which would cross over 200 water bodies and 78 miles of wetlands. For years, it has been clear that the proposed Line 3 tar sands pipeline is a grave risk to our waters and climate, and ignores Indigenous treaty-protected rights. Minnesota has a choice: instead of committing to dirty, fossil fuel infrastructure we must accelerate the transition to a clean, equitable energy future.
"Today's decision shows that the MPCA is taking their role of protecting Minnesota's waters and communities seriously. We expect that state leaders will continue to follow the science -- and that the science will lead to a full rejection of this pipeline."
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.