Minnesota's OK for Enbridge to temporarily move 5B gallons of water sows tension

Some environmentalists and Ojibwe tribes are angered at the state's decision to allow Enbridge to move 5 billion gallons of water as it builds a replacement for its Line 3 pipeline - up from 510 million in the company's original permit.

The water involved is in shallow aquifers, and it is temporarily being moved so that it doesn't drain into the pipeline's trench during construction.It's pumped from wells 10 to 15 feet deep and moved nearby to seep back into the soil to restore groundwater balance.

Earlier this month, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved Enbridge's request to move 10 times as much water as originally planned, amending a permit it originally granted in November. The company started construction late last year, and the 340-mile oil pipeline is now more than 60% built.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesotas-ok-for-enbridge-to-temporarily-move-5b-gallons-of-water-sows-tension-line-3-pipeline/600073288/