But the judges said there's enough evidence to prove the "project does not have the potential to cause significant environmental effects based on air emissions and timber harvesting."
In a consolidated case, Indigenous and environmental groups contend that Enbridge did not provide a long-range forecast of energy demand, as requested by the court when it ordered a second EIS, among other issues.
Key win for Enbridge Line 3 as Minnesota court affirms regulator approval financialpost.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from financialpost.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
(The Center Square) â The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed the stateâs Public Utilities Commission approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project.
The Court of Appeals determined the MPUCâs approval of the Line 3 environmental impact statement, certificate of need and route permit were accurate.
The 337-mile new pipeline replaces 283 miles of the current Line 3, and will span Minnesota from the North Dakota border to the Wisconsin border.
âAfter six years of community engagement, environmental review, regulatory and legal review, itâs good to see confirmation of previous decisions on the Line 3 Replacement Project,â Vern Yu, Enbridge executive vice president and president Liquids Pipelines. âFrom the start, the project has been about improving safety and reliability for communities and protecting the environment.â
By Syndicated Content
By Nia Williams
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) â The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed a state regulatorâs decision that there is sufficient need for Enbridge Inc to replace its Line 3 pipeline, handing the Canadian company a crucial victory in its lengthy battle with environmental opponents.
The decision marks another hurdle cleared for Enbridgeâs efforts to replace the aging pipeline that carries Alberta oil sands crude through the state.
Line 3, which entered service in 1968, ships crude from Alberta to U.S. Midwest refiners, and carries less oil than it was designed for because of age and corrosion. Replacing the pipeline would allow Enbridge to roughly double its capacity to 760,000 barrels per day.