Line 3 comment period extended to Nov 14

In our previous newsletter, we alerted you to the continuing efforts to resist the Line 3 ‘replacement’ project in Minnesota. MN’s own Department of Commerce requested a review of the MN Public Utilities Commission’s approval of the Certificate of Need, citing the fact that Enbridge submitted a pipeline utilization forecast rather than the required long-range… More Line 3 comment period extended to Nov 14

FERC v DC Appeals Court

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has strenuously resisted considering environmental externalities (think pollution and climate change) when they consider the necessity and convenience of new pipelines. On a couple of occasions, the DC Court of Appeals has insisted that they consider externalities, but they have always interpreted the court’s requirements in the narrowest possible… More FERC v DC Appeals Court

#StillNoDAPL – Fighting Expansion in Illinois

The battle to stop expansion of the Dakota Access Pipeline comes down to our efforts here in Illinois. Save Our Illinois Land, the first intervenor in the case, continues the legal battle to stop the doubling of the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The The Natural Resources Defense Council has blogged about our efforts… More #StillNoDAPL – Fighting Expansion in Illinois

Line 5 Tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac

The Michigan State Department of Great Lakes, Environment and Energy has asked Enbridge to rewrite its permit application to rebuild an oil and gas pipeline underneath the Straits of Mackinac and include alternative options. The State made clear that it was going to apply environmental standards in evaluating the permit; that the agency intends to… More Line 5 Tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac

Keystone XL Decision nullifies water-crossing permit

A District Court judge in Montana refused to narrow his April ruling that effectively nullified all water crossing permits (referred to as Nationwide Permit 12) for pipelines. This ruling doesn’t directly block construction but prohibits dredging work until further environmental reviews are completed. This ruling represents a welcome, although tenuous, victory.Yet we know that construction… More Keystone XL Decision nullifies water-crossing permit

Line 3 Resistance Continues in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Commerce, environmental groups and indigenous tribes continue to dispute the decision to proceed with the Line 3 ‘replacement’ pipeline. In 2018 the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved this project, which, rather than replacing, actually reroutes a large segment of the pipeline. On May 15, 2020 the MN Department of Commerce again… More Line 3 Resistance Continues in Minnesota

MORE on Line 5 – Eminent Domain for Private Gain in northern Wisconsin

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa sued Enbridge Energy in July 2019, because easements allowing Enbridge to operate the pipeline have expired. As a result, Enbridge is planning to remove the pipeline from the Bad River reservation and reroute it, constructing 41 miles of new pipeline. Enbridge has asked the Wisconsin Public Service… More MORE on Line 5 – Eminent Domain for Private Gain in northern Wisconsin