ST. PAUL, MN -- Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) joined more than three dozen legislators urging Governor Mark Dayton to instruct the Minnesota Department of Commerce and the Public Utilities Commission to move forward with the proposed Enbridge Line 3 Replacement project. The aging pipeline was ordered replaced by the federal government during the Obama administration, and has been subject to unprecedented public review and comment. The letter notes that the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Public Utilities Commission have consistently exceeded statutory and regulatory timeframes which has added unnecessary delays to the critical project.
“The Line 3 Replacement Project has jumped all necessary regulatory hurdles and it’s time that it be approved,” said Franson. “This project will help spur economic growth for local communities across the northern part of the state and provide good paying jobs for Minnesotans.”
Replacement of the Line 3 pipeline will mean more than $3 billion in private investment and create thousands of good-paying jobs along the route. The letter also raised concerns over the risk to the environment if the line is not replaced.
“The longer this project is put off, the more harm the existing pipeline could potentially cause to the environment.” Rep. Franson concluded.
With the Environmental Impact Statement now complete, the project has now cleared all relevant procedural hurdles including the Minnesota Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). A final decision, to be made by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commissioner, is expected next spring.
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