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ICYMI: U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04) Asks Biden to Review Line 3

Requests Mounting for President to Halt Construction of Pipeline

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum has joined a host of Minnesota legislators and congressional representatives who’ve spoken out against the Line 3 pipeline in Northern Minnesota by sending a letter to President Biden asking him to review the process of Line 3 permitting.

“I urge your administration to examine the process the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers followed when issuing its 404 permit for this project to determine whether all proper steps were taken, including adequate assessment of the best available science and meaningful consultation with the impacted tribal nations.” – U.S. Rep Betty McCollum in a letter last week to President Biden

Earlier this month, longtime pipeline opponent and fellow U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar sent a letter to Biden criticizing the pipeline as devastating for our climate and urging him to stop construction.

“We are pleased that another member of Minnesota’s federal delegation has joined the movement to stop Line 3 by urging Biden to review what clearly was a flawed permitting process,” said Brett Benson, Communications Director of MN350. “Enbridge’s construction of the pipeline endangers Minnesota in so many ways and must be stopped. We call on the rest of Minnesota’s congressional delegation to add their voices urging the administration to cancel permits just as it canceled permits last month for the Keystone XL pipeline.”

Background

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers refused to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Line 3 despite overwhelming evidence that the project would have significant impacts. Flaws in the process included:

• Treaty rights were not considered as required by law

• The risk of oil spills was not considered

• Climate change impacts were not considered

President Biden can review the 404 permit granted by Trump and halt Line 3 construction immediately.

Rep. Omar’s letter to Biden

“Climate change does not stop at the border of a reservation or a state or a country. The decision that U.S. entities make on Line 3 is a decision made for the entire world, and for all coming generations of humanity. I urge you to make the one decision supported by the scientific consensus on climate change: Stop Line 3.” -- U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar

Meanwhile in Minnesota:

The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council issued a letter requesting that Governor Walz halt the pipeline construction during appeals:

“We request, with urgency, that you issue an Executive Order staying the construction of the Line 3 pipeline during the pendency of the appeals of the PUC's and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's permits which enabled the company to construct the pipeline while the decisions of these agencies are currently in the appellate process.” – Robert Larsen, Chairman Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

More recent developments:

• Minnesota Reformer, Feb. 26: Rep. Betty McCollum asks Biden to review key Line 3 permit

• Common Dreams, Feb. 25: 300,000+ Demand Biden Stop Line 3 and Dakota Access Pipelines to ‘Secure the Livable Future We All Deserve’

• Star Tribune, Feb. 24: Pipeline workers among those arrested in sex trafficking sting

• MPR News, Feb. 24: Enbridge Line 3 divides Indigenous lands, people

• Inforum, Feb. 23: Letter: Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline is an unwanted imposition

• Duluth News Tribune, Feb. 20: Local View: Don’t be bamboozled by Line 3 – or Keystone XL

 

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