The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear an appeal by opponents of Enbridge Energy's Line 3 oil pipeline, letting stand a key decision by independent regulators to allow construction on the project to proceed.
Without comment, the state's highest court declined to take the case, issuing a one-page order that effectively affirmed a decision in June by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. And it left the Native American and environmental groups that have been protesting at construction sites across northern Minnesota with a dwindling number of legal options.
The Court of Appeals declared that the state's Public Utilities Commission correctly granted Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge a certificate of need and route permit for the 337-mile Minnesota segment of what's a larger project to replace an aging crude oil pipeline built in the 1960s that can run at only half capacity. The court also backed the commission's approval of the environmental review for the project.
The Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday dismayed the opponents, who cited the impacts of climate change being felt around the world and the drought in Minnesota. They have long argued that the replacement Line 3 violates treaties and threatens waters where wild rice grows, and that the oil it carries will aggravate global warming.
“The rights of a Canadian corporation continue to prevail over the laws of nature and the human rights of Anishinaabe people," Winona LaDuke, executive director of the Indigenous based environmental group Honor the Earth, said in a statement. "It’s a sad day for Minnesota. That a court would rule there is no environmental impact when the rivers have been sucked dry and scientists are declaring a Code Red for the planet is deeply disturbing. A crime is being committed in front of us all. And now Enbridge is set to make a profit off the destruction of our north.”
But Enbridge welcomed the decision. The Minnesota segment is approaching 90 percent complete, while the portions in Canada, North Dakota and Wisconsin are already finished. The Line 3 replacement will carry Canadian crude from Alberta to Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge expects to put it into service sometime in the fourth quarter this year.
“The project is providing real world economic benefits for Minnesota counties, small businesses, Native American communities, and union members — including creating thousands of family-sustaining construction jobs, and millions of dollars in local spending and tax revenues,” Embridge spokeswoman Juli Kellner said in an email. “Enbridge has already spent well over $287 million project dollars specifically with tribal nations, citizens, communities, and contractors.”
Line 3 opponents are holding a series of events at the state Capitol in St. Paul this week, including a march and rally on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to order the Army Corps of Engineers to cancel the project's federal permits despite its impending completion. They say Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has already failed them. More than 700 protesters have been arrested or ticketed along the route since construction in Minnesota began last December.
I have a dedicated team of haters that thrive on my posts and go out of their way to downovte me. However they forget that downvoting me does not make me wrong.
Seriously.. Because people who down vote on things like simple context are miserable keyboard warriors who desperately need a life & want to bring others down too. Down voting shouldn't be allowed except to down vote jerks. Not people setting the record straight or having their own opinions & thoughts!
The fact he identified as anishinaabe makes me suss as hell. Thats a catch all term for a dozen tribes and hundreds of bands. It seems purposely vague to keep from being identified as a member of any particular band
Exactly. I personally have my flair as Anishinaabe on the r/IndianCountry subreddit, I don't really specify my clan or band unless asked or someone provides theirs to me.
It tends to be easier to just say Anishinaabe/Ojibwe, as simply saying "Native" is too broad, and there are many who know their tribal affiliation, but are unclear on the specifics of their band or clan due to it being lost in history.
I think that band identity and tribal culture seems so different in the US than in Canada. Up here identifying yourself that way would immediately cause tension, like your trying to identify as native in the most generic way possible. I guess our version of it is saying what treaty number your band is in but even then you would probably get called out on it quick. Nobody likes a person posing as native, cultural appropriation is a serious hot button here
Yeah, I personally feel First Nations have to jump through harsher policies and prejudices. But it often feels like fighting the same kinds of battles.
I honestly find having to learn and remember band, nation, tribe, and clan is a not only a bit of juggling, but not an opportunity many Natives have.
No need to be so aggressive about it. It’s just not a thing up here. If someone in canada said that instead of lakota or nakota everyone in the room would be going side eye and wtf they are talking about. The poster was asking about reaching out up north and I think band politics and identity is just allot different up here
I'm literally canadian and have lived for years with and around nish people, and sorry for being aggressive but you're spreading straight up misinformation for what seems like politically motivated reasons. Lakota and nakota are also not anishnaabe, as a side note
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u/CantStopPoppin 19d ago
The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear an appeal by opponents of Enbridge Energy's Line 3 oil pipeline, letting stand a key decision by independent regulators to allow construction on the project to proceed.
Without comment, the state's highest court declined to take the case, issuing a one-page order that effectively affirmed a decision in June by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. And it left the Native American and environmental groups that have been protesting at construction sites across northern Minnesota with a dwindling number of legal options.
The Court of Appeals declared that the state's Public Utilities Commission correctly granted Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge a certificate of need and route permit for the 337-mile Minnesota segment of what's a larger project to replace an aging crude oil pipeline built in the 1960s that can run at only half capacity. The court also backed the commission's approval of the environmental review for the project.
The Supreme Court's decision on Tuesday dismayed the opponents, who cited the impacts of climate change being felt around the world and the drought in Minnesota. They have long argued that the replacement Line 3 violates treaties and threatens waters where wild rice grows, and that the oil it carries will aggravate global warming.
“The rights of a Canadian corporation continue to prevail over the laws of nature and the human rights of Anishinaabe people," Winona LaDuke, executive director of the Indigenous based environmental group Honor the Earth, said in a statement. "It’s a sad day for Minnesota. That a court would rule there is no environmental impact when the rivers have been sucked dry and scientists are declaring a Code Red for the planet is deeply disturbing. A crime is being committed in front of us all. And now Enbridge is set to make a profit off the destruction of our north.”
But Enbridge welcomed the decision. The Minnesota segment is approaching 90 percent complete, while the portions in Canada, North Dakota and Wisconsin are already finished. The Line 3 replacement will carry Canadian crude from Alberta to Enbridge’s terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge expects to put it into service sometime in the fourth quarter this year.
“The project is providing real world economic benefits for Minnesota counties, small businesses, Native American communities, and union members — including creating thousands of family-sustaining construction jobs, and millions of dollars in local spending and tax revenues,” Embridge spokeswoman Juli Kellner said in an email. “Enbridge has already spent well over $287 million project dollars specifically with tribal nations, citizens, communities, and contractors.”
Line 3 opponents are holding a series of events at the state Capitol in St. Paul this week, including a march and rally on Wednesday to call on President Joe Biden to order the Army Corps of Engineers to cancel the project's federal permits despite its impending completion. They say Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has already failed them. More than 700 protesters have been arrested or ticketed along the route since construction in Minnesota began last December.
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