April 3, 2020 Enbridge Line 3 Public Comments
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April 3, 2020 Enbridge Line 3 Public Comments Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Attn: Commissioner Laura Bishop 520 Lafayette Road North St. Paul, MN 55155-4194 Dear Commissioner Bishop: Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments on the 401 Certification for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project. Minnesotans value our natural resources, including water bodies, ground water and wetlands. Protecting our water resources is important and we believe replacing an aging pipeline with a new, safer, state-of-the-art model is one way to do so. Since the beginning of this proposed replacement project, Enbridge has worked diligently to develop a plan that will protect water resources, which, in some areas, even meant modifying the route from its current one to minimize impacts on wetlands and waterbodies. Minnesota sets a high bar in regard to environmental protections – as it should. In preparing its draft 401 Certification application to address comments put forth by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and others, the application reflects multiple changes to further minimize impacts to water quality. Enbridge also has developed an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) that details best-management practices and mitigation measures to be used during construction to minimize construction related impacts. Some examples in the EPP of these practices include clearing construction workspace using low pressure equipment, using timber mats to limit wetland disturbance, installing erosion control devises, minimizing in-stream work activities and identifying additional temporary workspace outside of wetlands to the extent possible. In areas where there are unavoidable impacts, Enbridge plans to minimize the footprint of the construction workspace and use best-management practices, which will be guided by data collected in the field, such as saturation, water levels, and soil stability. Over the past two years the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved – and reapproved – the Certificate of Need and route permit for this project – confirming that the existing Line 3 needs to be replaced. Replacing an aging pipeline with new, modern construction is the safest and best option for protecting the environment and communities. In addition to the enhanced protection, this replacement pipeline will provide to the environment, it also represents a $2.6 billion private investment in Minnesota’s energy infrastructure. Construction will bring 8,600 family-sustaining jobs and an economic boost for northern Minnesota communities. Over the many years now that the Line 3 Replacement Project has been in the environmental review and permitting process, it has become the most thoroughly planned and studied pipeline project in state history. We ask that the MPCA promptly process and approve the permits and authorizations needed for the Line 3 Replacement Project to move forward. Sincerely, Minority Leader Kurt Daudt Deputy Minority Leader Anne Neu Representative Tony Albright Representative Paul Anderson Representative Jeff Backer Representative Dave Baker Representative Peggy Bennett Representative Brian Daniels Representative Greg Davids Representative Lisa Demuth Representative Bob Dettmer Representative Sondra Erickson Representative Dan Fabian Representative Mary Franson Representative Pat Garofalo Representative Steve Green Representative Matt Grossell Representative Glenn Gruenhagen Representative Bob Gunther Representative Barb Haley Representative Rod Hamilton Representative John Heinrich Representative Josh Heintzeman Representative Jerry Hertaus Representative Brian Johnson Representative Deb Kiel Representative Ron Kresha Representative Sandy Layman Representative Eric Lucero Representative Dale Lueck Representative Joe McDonald Representative Shane Mekeland Representative Jim Nash Representative Nathan Nelson Representative Bud Nornes Representative Paul Novotny Representative Tim O’Driscoll Representative Marion O’Neill Representative John Petersburg Representative Nels Pierson Representative John Poston Representative Duane Quam Representative Kristin Robbins Representative Linda Runbeck Representative Joe Schomacker Representative Peggy Scott Representative Chris Swedzinski Representative Tama Theis Representative Paul Torkelson Representative Dean Urdahl Representative Bob Vogel Representative Nolan West .