The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says it has completed the investigation of three aquifer breaches during the construction of Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline project.
The two additional aquifer breaches were in the LaSalle Creek area of Hubbard County as well as an area near the Fond du Lac Reservation in St. Louis County.
The investigation of the breach at LaSalle Creek indicated that the breach happened when crews were installing sheet piling through the river valley’s eastern slope.
Enbridge reported about 9.8 million gallons were discharged in this breach, with the uncontrolled flow stopped in December.
The St. Louis County breach was identified last September after crews removed sheet piling after the construction of the pipeline.
This breach is considered high-pressure and in a geographically complex area, which may have detrimental impacts on the wild rice water for the Fond du Lac Reservation.
To date, more than 219 million gallons have been released by this breach.
Enbridge said this breach has slowed from 330 gallons released per minute to six gallons a minute.
No enforcement action for these latest breaches has yet been announced.
