State regulators take comments from the general public today in Saint Paul (830am start) on the revised environmental impact statement for Enbridge’s proposed Line 3 pipeline through northern Minnesota. The revised E-I-S was prompted by a court order to more thoroughly examine possible effects on Lake Superior. That concluded it’s unlikely that oil from a rupture would flow into Lake Superior within 24 hours. Nancy Norr with the group Jobs for Minnesotans says, “We find these results to be both comforting as well as favorable…. Did anticipate minimal if no risk to Lake Superior watershed.” But Andy Pearson with the environmental group MN350 says, “There’s still huge flaws with this project and this revised study didn’t change any of that. It just identified more issues.”
After today’s testimony, regulators on Monday will hear from the official parties and then deliberate whether the E-I-S is adequate and whether to re-grant what’s called a “Certificate of Need” for the project, plus a pipeline route permit.