Demand Federal Agencies Hold Enbridge Accountable for Line 3 Destruction

Ahead of construction of the Line 3 pipeline across northern Minnesota, scientists and water protectors predicted potential long-term and permanent hydrological disturbances and ecological destruction that could result from construction. Now that the project is complete, the Department of Natural Resources has publicly acknowledged three places where Enbridge pierced aquifers causing serious damage to surrounding wetlands and water bodies.

In October, Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office filed criminal charges against Enbridge over its aquifer breach in Clearbook, Minnesota. Enbridge has admitted to the breach and mishandling the follow up, including failures in notifying the DNR. We applaud Attorney General Ellison for doing what he could within existing law to finally hold Enbridge accountable for their egregious safety record, but these charges and the DNR’s action don’t come close to addressing the full extent of the harm, and further investigation is urgently needed.

Waadookawaad Amikwag, or Those Who Help Beaver, is an independent citizen science group, powered entirely by volunteers, and led by Indigenous values. Over the past year they have been diligently monitoring the ecological devastation caused by construction of the Line 3 pipeline. Contrary to the state’s limited assessment of harm, volunteers and experts with Waadookawaad Amikwag can demonstrate that there is a permanent disturbance of surface and groundwaters with ecological damage at at least 45 sites across the headwaters of the Red River of the North, the Mississippi River, and the St. Louis River and Lake Superior Watersheds.

State agencies have not stepped up to monitor this ecological fallout. We are calling on federal regulators to intervene, to hold responsible parties accountable and prevent further future harm.

Send your message to EPA Administrator Michael Regan and U.S. Army Corps Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon today!

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EPA Administrator Regan and ACE Lt. General Spellmon: Hold Enbridge Accountable for Line 3 Destruction

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Dear EPA Administrator Michael Regan and U.S. Army Corps Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, I am writing to ask you to take action in response to the ecological damage caused by Canadian Corporation Enbridge Energy during construction of the Line 3 tar sands pipeline. It is now clear that during Line 3 construction, Enbridge grossly misrepresented the construction risks and concealed violations of state and federal law. However despite clear and alarming evidence, we unfortunately see a meek response from Minnesota regulators. In October 2022, Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office filed criminal charges against Enbridge over its aquifer breach in Clearbrook, Minnesota. But much more is needed to fully investigate and address the full extent of the harm. I am gravely most concerned about the ongoing damages and the lack of accountability and scrutiny. These impacts have enormous implications for future projects -- both generally in Minnesota, and for upcoming projects proposed by Enbridge such as Line 5 in Wisconsin and Michigan. Right now, it is urgent that federal regulators at the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers intervene, investigate and take action. A group of citizen scientists and Indigenous tribal members of Northern Minnesota, Waadookawaad Amikwag (Those Who Help Beaver) are dedicated to addressing the ecological damage from the billion dollar Line 3 construction project and have asked your agencies to intervene, preventing further blundering harms, and assuring that Enbridge is held accountable to repairing the damage they have done. I support the Waadookawaad Amikwag request and urge you to respond. Thank you for consideration of this time sensitive request,