Criminal Charges Pending Against Enbridge

Tags

Clearwater, DAPL, Enbridge, Line 3, Line 93, MN DNR, MPCA, PUC, Red Lake Nation, RISE Coalition, Standing Rock, White Earth Reservation

It’s been another whirlwind of a week in Enbridgeland.

As most find themselves accepting a future Enbridge wishes – and promotes daily on the radio still… and with large ads in the paper too? [I wouldn’t know as we don’t get a paper. Perhaps for the best to not have to see Enbridge lies…] Their favorite, in these end days, is the one about how well Enbridge works with the Tribes. [FFS. They’ve done all they can to DIVIDE Tribes!]

This weekend, we discovered a new tagline – financed by Enbridge I’m guessing, based on the large billboards and signs being for the companies who have long supported the Line 3 project …for what recompense, I know not, though perhaps some foolishly support them without compensation? These new signs are perhaps the scariest yet… so I’ll save them for the end of the blog.

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Yet regardless of all their advertising, Enbridge could not be in a much bigger mess at this point in the game.

As we saw with Dakota Access Pipeline on their final river crossing, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe brought out tremendous support AGAINST a pipeline running through [not the white neighborhoods of Bismark… but] the Native lands of the Sioux People. All along the Line 3 process in Minnesota, we’ve seen the strong and vocal opposition, based in science and standing on the treaty rights of the Anishinaabeg.

Yet these citizens were stymied again and again by state agencies in apparent collusion with Enbridge as commissioners were nearly completely unwilling to meet with citizens or scientists, state representatives literally campaigned for the oil transport company to be paid millions of dollars in back taxes, and even the MN Court of Appeals seemed to find that, even though there was no demand forecast provided… deferring to the Public Utilities Commission was A-OK anyway!

Nevertheless, Enbridge is finding its project also falling apart at their last crossing… of the Clearwater River, no less. Ironic, no? As they are trying to wrap up construction, there is evidence of a frac-out once again.

We saw on July 20th the public outrage grow as Enbridge experienced mulitple frac-outs as they drilled under the Mississippi Headwaters in Clearwater County. These failures followed unreported frac-outs at the Willow River after the company had already drilled under the Mississippi’s second crossing (near Palisade – outside the allowable construction period no less, which restricted work from 4/1-6/30 each year – though a reported frac-out of 6000-9000 gallons of drilling mud occurred on… June 25, 2021) of Enbridge’s preferred route for their new pipeline, now named Line 93 as the official line markers are installed along the new corridor. It took public monitors and Senators and Representatives writing to the MPCA to FINALLY hear from the agency of the more than two dozen frac-outs that had already happened!!

To this DAY, STILL the Mississippi Headwaters continues to show evidence of frac-out drilling mud seeping up through the wetlands and rising to the water surfaces, and into Misi-ziibi. All coming downstream to a drinking water source near you?

RISE Coalition, Red Lake Treaty Camp, Camp Migizi, Honor the Earth, and Indigenous Environmental Network are holding Enbridge accountable for their destruction of our wetlands, waters, and lands. While the MN DNR and MPCA seem to do near nothing but allow Enbridge to continue said destruction. [Love Forever to Ron Turney…]

That was just the beginning of their HDD (Horizontally Directional Drilled) water crossings and their luck has continued to be poor as we now see the frac-outs at the Clearwater River, as well as the larger problem of Enbridge’s VIOLATION of their Construction Permit which resulted in their BREACH OF AN AQUIFER in Clearbrook – WAY BACK IN JANUARY… which the DNR claims to not have known about until June 15, 2021, and for which the public was not informed until just this month. This aquifer CONTINUES to leak as Enbridge finds no way to remedy their rupture. NINE MONTHS LATER… [FFS, I could make an entire HUMAN in that time!]

Keep in mind that June 15th was just ELEVEN (11) DAYS after the DNR approved an almost 10-fold increase in dewatering allowance for Enbridge. DID NO ONE CONNECT THE FUCKING DOTS ON THIS SHIT??? FFS How thoughtless ARE the DNR agency representatives???

Separately, the DNR has also referred this matter to the Clearwater County Attorney for criminal prosecution. The DNR has determined that Enbridge Energy violated Minnesota Statute 103G.141, subdivision 1, which makes it a crime to appropriate “waters of the state without previously obtaining a permit from the commissioner.”

The criminal referral and civil enforcement orders resulted from an investigation of Line 3 construction activities near Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal. Should the company violate the DNR’s restoration order, it would be subject to additional misdemeanor charges under state law.”

DNR Announcement of Orders Against Enbridge

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On Saturday, we discovered a large Enbridge holding tank farm in SE Bagley, just between the golf course and the nursing home facility in a small cul-de-sac neighborhood of quiet homes. On discovery, I wasn’t sure what this holding tank facility was all about, though on review of the footage at home that evening, I determined these were likely settling tanks for the large amounts of water Enbridge was removing from our landscape as they try to finish their work.

What are the contents of these tanks?

It seems two things, based on aerial and on the ground footage… and NO INPUT FROM THE DNR OR MPCA to Citizens of the dangers entailed.

First, they appear to be tanks for the frac-out contaminated waters vaccuumed from their HDD locations to be placed for settling – as their designed dewatering systems were FAR TOO INSUBSTANTIAL to accommodate the LARGE QUANTITIES OF FRAC-OUT CONTAMINATED WATER.

Approved Dewatering Site – 260th Street crossing of Line 93 in Clearwater County

Enbridge dumps water in here and hope the bales filter out any sediments as the liquid – water with any contaminants from the trench – flows back into the environment. Or so I hear… never saw one in use here in Clearwater County.

This was taken at the 250th street crossing where these dewatering stations never were installed.

Second, with the aquifer breach near Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal, it seems clear there could also be water coming from that location as well. AND at least one truck leaving this job site was marked not as “Non-Potable Water” but with HazMat Code 1993 – FLAMMABLE LIQUID.

Access Road 15C is at the Aquifer Breach at Enbridge’s Clearbrook Terminal

We saw multiple trucks leaving an area on Fairgrounds Road directly east of the Bagley dump. Not only did we see dump trucks (one that dumped its load in the dump) and “Non-Potable Water” trucks, but also another with HazMat Code 1993 – FLAMMABLE LIQUID, following that one directly to the tank farm facility SE of Bagley.

HazMat Tool Info

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SOOOO….How did this Breach of the Aquifer happen?

It seems Enbridge decided to willfully violate the Construction Permit for their “Line 3 Replacement” project… which we all know now is a relocation and expansion project as their easement was clearly was cut for more than a single pipeline installation.

The Administrative Penalty Order issued to Enbridge found Enbridge far exceeded plans presented to the state of Minnesota for only an 8′ deep trench in the area:

Beginning on about January 21, 2021, and continuing through the date of this APO, Enbridge has violated Minn. Stat. § 103G.223 by causing reductions in groundwater resources available to the Leon 33 calcareous fen (Steenerson and Deep Lake Fens) (calcareous fens) without an approved calcareous fen management plan. In 2020, Enbridge informed DNR, in its request for a no effect concurrence, that its construction activities were unlikely to negatively impact the nearby calcareous fens because Enbridge intended to excavate about an eight foot deep trench. Instead, when Enbridge constructed the pipeline at or near the Clearbrook Terminal, Enbridge excavated an eighteen foot deep trench and installed sheet piling to a depth of 28 feet. Because Enbridge deviated from its plans, Enbridge breached an artesian aquifer, causing uncontrolled flow of groundwater. The uncontrolled flow affects the same aquifer that upwells into the Leon 33 calcareous fen (Steenerson and Deep Lake Fens) and is located approximately 4,800 feet northwest of the calcareous fens. Enbridge failed to submit a calcareous fen management plan for DNR approval prior conducting an activity that may drain, or otherwise degrade, wholly or partially, a calcareous fen.”

DNR Administrative Penalty Order dated 9/16/2021

This situation is also noted in the Restoration and Replacement Order:

In an email to Randall Doneen dated July 7, 2021, Kristen Lenz of Merjent, Enbridge’s consultant, stated that as of March 19, 2021, the quantity of water pumped was estimated at 3.8 million gallons. Enbridge had not taken any flow or volume measurements since March 18. Attachments to the email showed that the depth of the bore pit was 18 feet deep by 45 feet long by 12 feet wide. The sheet piling was 30 feet long with 28 feet installed into the ground. This email contained maps, boring logs and other information about the area.”

DNR 9/16/21 RESTORATION AND REPLACEMENT ORDER Finding of Fact #15

Enbridge Lies FB Acct

That many still support Enbridge is a sign of a poor media capacity to shine the light on the egregious way Enbridge is already damaging our state, including for the last nine months, by bleeding water from our landscape – itself experiencing severe drought – as the pipeline company begged the DNR for a HUGE increase in their use of water from the state, all while not revealing their company’s BREACH of an Aquifer because they FAILED to CONFORM to their Construction Permit Requirements!!!

The media has failed – always seeming to drink the Enbridge kool-aid… perhaps because of all those big ads… that generated much-needed revenues during a pandemic? From scarcely reporting on the death and near-death of two Enbridge employees early on in the project work… to barely noting the inclusion of Enbridge pipeliners involved in sex crimes across the north… to not reporting on the police brutality by DNR Officers, State Troopers, and local law enforcement – with much exception here in Clearwater County where we’ve seen Sheriff Halverson honestly, fairly, and transparently enforcing the law. And while they are not covering those very serious and traumatic events, we watch them give the same short shrift to explaining to the public how the state agencies and local citizens have been duped by Enbridge money and propaganda. The media seem just another paid promoter for Enbridge.

Which brings me back to those scary new banners.

Now I know where I’m NOT getting a trailer if I need one…
#Boycott King of the Road Trailers

For those who cannot easily name their product, they choose another word in their star-spangled banner ads:

At US Hwy 2 and Clearwater County 2 – the Heart of Enbridgeland?

I’m hoping this time, the public sees the already atrocious concerns being raised simply by Enbridge’s CONSTRUCTION process, and that they will certainly be rising to assure Minnesota is protected from this foreign corporation destroying even MORE of Minnesota than we’ve seen to date.

We surely have seen that no one in the State Agencies are coming to our rescue.

Update 9/29/21:

Bad news: PUC apparently giving Enbridge the Green Light… even though there is SO MUCH MESS STILL REMAINING! Exposed and incomplete wiring not done at many crossings along the RA-05 portion of the route – even at the Clearbrook Terminal.

Photo taken 9/26/21 at east side of Highway 92 just west of the Clearbrook Terminal.
These kinds of loose wires are rampant throughout the county, yet Enbridge proposes their project “complete”??? Who inspected this fucking project? Apparently, Minnesota Agencies trust Enbridge for that too…

This was taken on 9/25/21 at the Line 93 (that’s its new name…) crossing of 298th Street.

Note the VERY WIDE CORRIDOR which Enbridge seemingly hopes to be able to move all their pipelines into – as their easements for their pipelines thru Leech Lake Reservation end in 2029. Wishing more had understood the critical reasons we have worked so hard to #StopLine3.

To Worse: Inewz.TV reports Enbridge plans to flow tar sands by Friday.

Cree Prophecy? Chief Seattle quote? Debwewin. Truth.

Today, RISE Coalition, Red Lake Nation, and White Earth Nation all stand in opposition.
Stand with them in every way that you can.
Miigwech.

Update: 10/18/21 – And STILL the Enbridge Aquifer Breach at their Clearbrook Terminal… remains unresolved.

Governor Walz Sacrifices Minnesotans for Enbridge Dollars

Tags

#DelayLine3, Crony Capitalism, Delay Line 3, Governor Tim Walz, Line 3, MPCA, PUC

Over the weekend, I issued an Urgent Blog Post as opposed to waiting until today. So glad that I did because today requires another URGENT Blog Post. FFS. [This, ladies and gentlemen, is your indicator. For those of you unfamiliar, from here on out, it’s Sailor Style, Trucker Style, Steel Worker Style, which means I’m not filtering the outrage. Proceed at your own risk. I know some of you quite enjoy this version of me, so, read on if you’re not familiar.]

We’re about to see a terrible collision of two things that cannot peacefully coexist: Pipeline Construction and a Pandemic.

My Saturday blog, Need is Clear… for a Stay on Line 3, explained why the Motion for Stay, filed by White Earth Band of the Ojibwe and Red Lake Band of the Chippewa, was just and valid. Even without many of the reasons noted in their Memorandum, a Stay on the Line 3 project is so obviously necessary to protect the health, safety, and well-being of Minnesotans as Mr. Walz is fond to spout.

We have been begging for a Pause for Pandemic but no one is listening as of yet. Peggy came out against Line 3 but Tim isn’t listening to her. And he’s not listening to health professionals from Aitkin County either it seems. Health care systems are breaking down across the country and most places are locking down but Tim is rolling out the red carpet for Enbridge. Without a second thought about how many of us will die? It seems we’re expendable.

Enbridge’s Corridor of Death (my addition of their Line 3 route)

We are seeing great increases in cases and casualties here in northern Minnesota at the virus surges. And with so many having little regard for masks, or even the virus itself as legitimate, the dangers were high in the region to start. Now, even with recent legal complaints, petitions, and motions filed and Coronavirus surging throughout the Midwest, Tim Walz seems compelled to rush through all the approvals Enbridge needs to start their tar sands pipeline ASAP. Is he trying to surpass the death figures seen in North Dakota after their recent construction project with Enbridge? It was only a 12-mile stretch so our 337-mile stretch is sure to do the trick.

Our highest daily death total yet plowed us into a 4-day holiday weekend, yet with Monday’s ALMOST ALWAYS our lowest figures for COVID, Tim Walz felt NO NEED WHATSOEVER to ask his Pollution Control Agency to consider a wait-and-see approach on their Stormwater Permits – the last ones needed by Enbridge for the project? Not even until we can see how many dead accummulate by tomorrow? Is One Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Three dead – 1133 DEAD – in November NOT ENOUGH FOR YOU, Tim???

Did the Governor give ONE FUCKING SECOND of consideration to the lives of NORTHERN MINNESOTANS. NOPE! He callously WENT AHEAD with Enbridge’s plans for a November 30th start date. And, to add salt to the wound, he also made sure his Climate Subcabinet could get started ON THE SAME MOTHERFUCKING day – in further ruse of giving an actual FUCK about Climate Change.

Ya’ think people at the funerals are going to think that was funny, Tim?

As if things could not get any more fucked up, the PUC has ordered a Hearing on the Motion for Stay for THIS FUCKING FRIDAY. So… Department of Commerce, the challenge is ON! Can you produce a Brief to join the Tribes in their urgent call for a Stay? In under 48 hours? When you likely expected that the Stormwater Permit might take a bit more consideration for a project so controversial. I feel your pain. And I sure hope you can.

It seems Tim Walz is ALL IN with Enbridge on literally “killing it” in Northern Minnesota with their new pipeline project. Who Gives a FUCK about anybody up here, eh? Just a bunch of rocks and cows, right Timmy?

“How many of your constituents are you willing to sacrifice to the Enbridge God of Oil?”

Well, a bunch of the people who live by those rocks and cows are dying. So I ask you, “How many of your constituents are you willing to sacrifice to the Enbridge God of Oil?” Their God seems to be losing steam in recent years but you don’t seem to be able to find a way out of their pocket? Even when the very lives of your citizens are at risk from the project continuing? During a MOTHERFUCKING GLOBAL PANDEMIC? FOR FUCK SAKE, Tim. Are you even gonna give us a goodbye kiss? Can you at least ACKNOWLEDGE your Negligent Homicide as we experience it?

How do you possibly look at the state of the world, the dying tar sands, the dying people – which eventually means less oil use, eh? – and NOT COMPREHEND that an ALLIANCE with Enbridge is going to send your soul straight to Hell? There is NO FUCKING WAY you can PRETEND that people aren’t dying. You can’t pretend that bringing a bunch of potential COVID super-spreaders from TX, OK, ND, WI aren’t gonna really FUCK US HARD up here in the few hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes we have.

I really don’t know what else to say. It seems there is nowhere else to turn. We’re basically being sacrificed to the Oil Gods, and no on can seemingly do a thing to stop it. Not even Tim. Not even if you give him the verbiage to clarify that his Executive Order 20-20 DOES NOT say Pipeline CONSTRUCTION is Essential. Because it is NOT. And pretending it is will cause irreparable harm to many Minnesota families. Damage that will sting for years to come as we consider the results of his heartless decision-making. Though I’m guessing even the rocks and cows might give a bit more of a Fuck than Governor Walz.

If you give a fuck about anyone up here along Enbridge’s Corridor of Death, can you give Tim a call and ask him to give a fuck too? 1-800-657-3717.

Line 3 Legal Detours and Walz

Tags

Line 3, MN PUC, Pipeline, PUC, Tar Sands, Tim Walz, Walz

In the ongoing saga of the Sandpiper/Line 3 Tar Sands Pipeline of Enbridge dreams, we are facing another unexpected road block.  Well, it’s not a road block really, more of a detour. While back on the campaign trail, then-Congressman Walz showed opposition to Line 3, we’re not so sure where he’s going to land now that we’ve given him the job as Governor. Below, I explain why.

Last Tuesday, it was reported that the Minnesota Court of Appeals had dismissed ALL the appeals that had been filed against the Public Utilities Commission on Enbridge’s Line 3 Tar Sands Pipeline Approval. 

What happened?

You may recall that the MN Department of Commerce (DOC) filed a lawsuit (late in then-Governor Dayton’s term) against the Public Utilities Commission for illegally approving Enbridge’s Line 3 Tar Sands pipeline. The DOC noted: “Enbridge did not introduce, and the Commission did not evaluate the accuracy of, a long-range demand forecast for the type of energy that would be supplied by the proposed facility.” 

Proof of demand was required in order to justify a Certificate of Need (CoN) be approved by the PUC.  The PUC did approve the CoN and, subsequently approved the Route Permit while stating that they did “not believe the climate science” brought by the Youth Climate Intervenors and other groups who are adamantly opposed to building a New Line 3. 

This line would be the first of many as Enbridge moves all its oil pipelines OFF the Leech Lake Reservation where Enbridge’s easement ends in 2029.  Their newly approved route would be a new corridor, destroying hundreds of thousands of plants and animals.  With the fossil fuel industry in its death throes, it seems illogical to invest in a bunch of new infrastructure that will not end up serving its lifetime and will likely be left as Enbridge slides into insolvency.

So why did the MN Court of Appeals decide to dismiss all the appeals?  Well, it’s a legal technicality thing.  The PUC (against normal practices) divided their approval into two parts – basically because Enbridge came to the last meeting with a bunch of extra promises to push their proposal over the line for approval. (Sad part is that none of these offerings is enough to mitigate the damage their pipeline brings as the CO2 equivalent is the same as 50 coal-fired power plants being installed in Minnesota.) 

The now-dismissed appeals were filed against the PUC approval from June but the Court is saying the REAL decision to appeal was the one the PUC finalized in January (during Walz’ term). (Sadly, this approval was on a value of insurance liability that will not cover the needed losses should we have a catastrophic failure like the one Enbridge had in Marshall, MI years ago.  God forbid we have such a major spill.  It will be impossible to remedy.  But we all know… ALL pipelines leak.)

So, the Court of Appeals noted that they would waive the filing fees. They were surely expecting all the parties to re-file their appeals with the court.  To do so, the first step is filing a Petition of Reconsideration by Tuesday at 4:30 PM.  (This merely gives them the option to re-file their appeal; it does not require them to do so.  Thus, this could turn into a longer waiting game…)

However, Walz is looking awful wishy washy on Line 3.  As one of his first decisions made in office was to ask the new DOC Commissioner to “review” the appeal to see if they still wanted to pursue it, he seems to be pushing to FAST-TRACK Line 3.  One can only assume that he’s doing this to pay back laborers for their support during his campaign.  However, far more jobs are available in the green infrastructure we’re going to need to transition away from fossil fuels, as directed in the IPCC’s October Report. 

A full-court press has been in progress with MANY Minnesotans calling the Governor’s office the past few week.  Walz had promised to meet with advocacy groups regarding Line 3 before he made his decision but, other than a rumored meeting Friday afternoon with unknown Tribal representatives, he has not yet done this for any groups.  Perhaps he’s meeting with pro-pipeline groups, but none of the anti-Line 3 groups that I’ve heard from have had an opportunity to meet with Walz to date, though I have watched the multiple requests made by MN350 during livestreams. The Transition Team months ago and now Walz’ Administrative Team more recently have both promised the group that a meeting would happen… but no. Not yet.

Tuesday will tell if The Great and Powerful Walz will have Dayton’s Backbone or Enbridge’s Money, as my friend Brian recently commented.  If you want to make a last minute call, you can reach him at 651-201-3400 (toll free at 800-657-3717). 

And tomorrow? We’ll see.

Evaluation of the Line 3 Proposal Public Commentary

Tags

Enbridge, Pipeline, PUC

As I did on a previous session of public comments on the Enbridge Line 3 proposed new line project, I am again reporting on the nature of the data for this latest round of Revised Final Environmental Impact Statement (RFEIS) Public Comments for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Yes, I am a glutton for punishment!!  But I am also a curious fuck and wanted to see what the commentary looked like for several reasons.  I suspected that, like last round, the Pro-Pipeline commentary would be very terse, uninformed, and belligerent.   I expected the Anti-Pipeline people to be more educated, verbose, and supportive of Indigenous Rights.

What did I find?

The Pro-Pipeline was definitely short and somewhat ignorant but not nearly as hostile as I suspected it would be.   The Anti-Pipeline was largely as expected.

Here are the details.

The listing indicated that 180 individuals had submitted comments.  I ended up with a few more so I’m not sure if this is their miscount or mine but with several hundred pages of letters, I’m not gonna be super nit-picky with the details.  I’m providing this review as a way of showing qualitatively how the two sides compared.  But if you want to count them, here they are [and yes, they AGAIN listed my name incorrectly – sheesh!]:

Mary Adams Lisa Havelin Mary-Churchill Peeples Vicki Andrews Gary Heimark Sheila Perrington Elizabeth Baker-Knuttila Ann Hess Cheryl Peters Steve Bakkum Janet Hill Doug Peterson Kathryn Beatty Jenny Hill John Pettingill Bill Bennett Kathy Hollander Joni Phillips Shannon Benzer Julie Huber Greg Pierce Ric Berkholtz Neal Illes Debbie Prestby Paul Berland John Iversen Richard Preston Reece Bertholf Carl Jarvi Curtis Proud Mike Birkeland Gary Jepson Cynthia Purchase Michael Blandford Chad Jewell Casey Quinn Dean Borgeson Barbara Job Ranee Raddohl Frank Bowker Al Johnson Rose Ragole Diana Brainard Deanna Johnson Phil Randall Annelise Brandel-Tanis Glen Johnson Kate Richardson Dave Butcher Matt Johnson Jim Roberts Mary-Kay Byers Rachel Johnson Deb Rogers Aaron Camacho Thomas Johnson Lora Schroeder Robert Chastan Bryn Johnston Leah Shwer Jaci Christenson Emily Jurgens Jennifer Smith Cyril Christo Daniel Kelley Rebecca Smith Nick Compton Matt Kesner Daniel Snidarich Michelle Crawford Kathy Koch Loren Solbergf Anne Cremons Dave Kotula Ashley Stalvig Alan Crompton Rachael Krivinchuk Michael Stang Lois Dalsin Jason Kruse Charles Staten Judy Diaz Kathy LaBerge Amy Stenseng Jimmy Dick Kathy Labriola Craig Sterle Tess Dornfield Philip LaFlamme Bud Stone Mary-Theresa Downing Craig Larson Richard Stuckey Jay Doyle Randy Lasky Walter Suronen Janet Draper Kurt Lauderbaugh Dean Swenson Eleanor Dvorak James Lawson Nancy Terhark Chris Elliot Sharon LeMay Mel Thoreson Nicholas Eltgroth Trevor Lindblom Gary Tibbitts Torrey Erickson E Lindell Jim Tjepkema Bill Erzar Gudrun Lock Jessica Tobin Jeanne Fahlstrom Mary Ludington Shelly Tocchio Lory Fedo Jason Markert Greg Todavich Cynthia Finch Terri Mathis Susan Tomte Brian Foster Nathan McKinney Bailey Troth Jamie Gaither Nancy McReady Peter Tuitt Shaun Germolus Brian Meier Wendy Ulrich Kerry Gersich Jorie Miller Joe Van Vynckt Chad Gilbert Keith Miller Nick Voss Steve Giorgi Kevin Miller Wendy Vyskocil Dawn Goodwin Mitch Mincoff Don Wagner Dylan Goudge Melodee Moniken Justin Wallace Mike Gragert Michael Monsrud Phillip Wallace John Grover Boucher Mooney Corey Weber Katie Grymala Tom Morgan John Weber Paul Gustafson John Munter Joe Wenker Shannon Gustafson Sharon Natzel Josh Yank Jaqueline Hadfield Nancy Norr David Ybarra Fredrick Hage John North Koh Zhi -You Shauna Haines Kevin OConnor Raymond Zidrick Patricia Hammel Gary Oja Tony Hansen Connie Olson Kelly Harrington Kevin Olson Brian Hartje Teresa Paris

Of the 192 submissions I counted, I found one Pro-Pipeline guy had submitted his commentary – the same letter – three times.  On the Anti-Pipeline side, there were two repeaters, one woman who submitted the same letter twice and one man who submitted two letters of substantially different material.   There were a total of 114 Pro-Pipeline and 78 Anti-Pipeline submissions.

In all, there were ~264 pages of letters from individuals.  [Note – one Pro-Pipeline submission  had about 10 blank or only a couple meaningless word pages in it, which I didn’t count. Looked like an internet issue.] Some of these letters were full pages and some were one line letters.  In trying to be fair about the counting, I would give a 3/4 page Pro-Pipeline letter a full count but if it was 1/2 page, only half.  For the 1-2 liner messages, I gave them 10% of a page – even though it was not truly that substantial.  And even the three-six line comments got 20% or 25% of a page.  I tried to count letters as 1/4 page, 1/3 page, 1/2 page and 1 page as best I could.

In all, the Pro-Pipeline folks submitted 36 pages of commentary.  Of these, 46 of the submissions were three lines of text or less.  Just for curiosity’s sake, I went back through the 264 pages and counted… 22 single line submissions (all but one Pro-Pipeline). Here are some of my favorites [No, I did not alter the punctuation, grammar, or spelling in any of these… and yes, these are the complete letters excluding the greeting/closing]:

• I am a Minnesota resident and 100percent for the replacement of line 3 and for the positive help to are local economies and the taxes that help the school district in the county that they cross
• I am in full support of line 3 replacement!
• this project needs to be completed ASAP!  [This exact verbiage was submitted twice, both without the capital letter to begin the sentence.]
• Build it and pull the old one out to create more job and help the economy in the area plus it will be a safer line with better coating and steel
• The EIS is more than adequate, the law’s been followed, grant the permit.  [Should I have counted this as a 3-liner???]
• JBW Consultin LLC fully supports the Line 3 endevour.  [This appears to be someone hoping to capitalize on the “endevour”…  Let’s hope their “Consultin” skills are better than their English skills.]
• This line replacement is an integral part of repairing America’s Infrastructure!!!

This was probably the best written of them all:

• It is in our community’s best interest to allow replacement of the Line 3 pipeline in a timely manner to enhance the safety of the pipeline and to reduce maintenance activities that disrupt landowners and the environment.

[I also counted about nine 2-liners, so… sixteen 3-liners.]

Here is the Anti-Pipeline 1-liner I found (I’d originally counted it as a Pro letter – my bias is showing!!)

• Line 3 makes no sense not only from an environmental and native rights standpoint, but also fro the economic standpoint of investing in an outmoded energy resource.  [So our side has typos too!  But at least I am now unconfused about a Pro-Pipeline letter referencing Indigenous Rights…]

Here’s one of my favorite short ones from the Anti-Pipeline side:

Tar sands…
> are a dirty and inefficient source of energy,
> will hurt the environment through climate change,
> and use land in violation of existing treaties.
Please do not approve a continuance of this offensive, opioid-like addiction.

Only 19 of the Pro-Pipeline submissions were more than a half-page in length and I don’t recall any being longer than a page.  I would say 12-15 were full-page submissions (again, if it was 2/3-3/4 page, I gave them a full page credit) but the majority of the submissions were very brief, 5-6 sentences or less.

As to the uninformed charge I make, I give this as an example of a Pro-Pipeline sentiment:

This is a long overdue needed line . The old line is failing and constantly being repaired . I c these things as I locate utilities for all pipeline projects in my area . The safety programs these guys put in place are top shelf .the environmental issues are above and beyond what’s required and the safety concerns of the pipeline are met
constantly with new technology and old they upkeep and inspect these line like no other . The money that this will bring into areas along it’s route will not only thrive while it’s going through but the tax base it will provide after that is detrimental to all plus it will employ and help our economy . Build it build it build it

OK, I admit, when I saw “Build it build it build it” as an ending to a letter, I knew I’d be picking it.  Now, reading it through, it shows some of the ignorance but really, I’m seeing how hard this is to even decipher!  What’s uninformed here?  Yes, the original Line 3 is old (and had quality issues when it was built because no one thought dropping pipes as they handled them might lead to issues down the line).  And it is constantly failing and needing repair, especially since they are pushing Tar Sands.  BUT I’d take issue with Enbridge’s safety programs.  They are NOT top notch.  In fact Enbridge has one of the worst records in the industry.  They do inspect lines but… we still have failures that are not detected by these inspections.  Best available technology does NOT mean sufficient and competent technology, just the best we’ve come up with to date.  As far as the money the pipeline will bring into the area?  Temporary jobs do not provide long-term economic support and while he says the tax base will be “detrimental”, I think he means the opposite.  And yes, I know I will pay higher taxes if a new pipeline doesn’t come through and provide.  But I’m pretty sure the risks to our much bigger economy of tourism are not worth chancing for a few jobs.  And I’m willing to pay higher taxes.

Very few of the Pro-Pipeline letters actually addressed what the PUC was requesting, whether the RFEIS addressed the four points that the PUC deemed Inadequate in the FEIS.  Most were about pipelines being the safest transport for oil, how we really need the jobs (though many will go to non-Minnesotans), energy independence (“It is time we get to the point where we’re not depending on other countries oil. Countries that fund the exact terrorism that is killing people every day!”), and how we all use oil and its products every day (“These include computers, cell phones, beauty products, appliances,
clothing and sporting goods.”).

So how many pages did the 78 Anti-Pipeline folks submit?  About 92.  Yes, 2.5 times the number of pages submitted by 40% less contributors.  On average, more than a full page per submission.  Yes, we had a few of our own short and poorly written letters and some were simply supporting the environment or Indigenous Rights.  But, by and large, the data in our letters was substantial, referencing links, news articles, and the page references in the RFEIS in question.  Most of the letters actually addressed the four items in question by the PUC.

I was pretty proud of the Anti-Pipeline showing.

When it came to form letters, Enbridge had given up on this tactic.  No pre-printed postcards for this round on the Pro-Pipeline side.  While this blog only concerns itself with self-directed letters submitted to the PUC, MN 350 and Interfaith Powe & Light did submit some pre-printed forms.  They were tallied in subsequent batches of Public Comments. As in the last go-around, many of these cards/petitions also contained verbiage, not just signed names and addresses without comment.  How many did they submit?  Over 23,000 citizens agreed that Enbridge’s New Line 3 is not good for Minnesota’s future.  Yes, the Anti-Pipeline submissions definitely surpassed those of the Pro-Pipeliners all-in-all.

As to the belligerence?  It was really not as bad as I thought it might be.  I recall one Pro-Pipeline letter saying something about putting “politics aside” and some stressing that this project has been on hold long enough.  But for the most part, the letters were civil on both sides.  Most of the outrage on the Anti-Pipeline side was regarding the racism (some called it by name) of not giving Indigenous People a voice by including a Traditional Cultural Properties Survey in the EIS or lamenting the little time left if we truly want to address climate change.  But even when an Anti-Pipeliner was short and forceful, they were often still polite…

I OBJECT- Before the Administrative Law Judge tries to make her findings, I request that you create a supplementary EIS that addresses the deficiencies in the Final EIS. Please.

So here’s the summary:

Pro-Pipeline: 114 letters, 36 pages, 21 one-line submissions, 9 two-line submissions, 15 three-line submissions, little data but lots of unsubstantiated statements.

Anti-Pipeline: 78 letters, 92 pages, 1 one-line submission, many multi-page submissions, lots of evidence backing up the statements saying that the RFEIS continues to be inadequate.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.  Deny the Certificate of Need.  Kick Enbridge’s New Line 3 Tar Sands Pipeline to the curb.

Update 3/15/18: The public Utilities Commission voted to accept the RFEIS as Adequate. You can read more on my FB post from that date.