Scorching drought exacerbates Line 3 water concerns in northern Minnesota

Severe drought is exacerbating concerns about the construction of the Line 3 oil pipeline across northern Minnesota, with the project moving millions of gallons of water even as river and lake levels sink.

DFL lawmakers are now asking state pollution regulators to halt all drilling along the pipeline route until the drought ends and the region's numerous wetlands and rivers recover and can better dilute and flush any chemicals and sediment from the work.

They also don't want drilling to resume until the state has investigated nine drilling mud spills along the construction route this summer, according to a July 27 letter to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Commissioner Peter Tester signed by 32 DFL lawmakers.

https://www.startribune.com/scorching-drought-exacerbates-line-3-water-concerns-in-northern-minnesota/600082497/