Line 3 is already under construction, less than a day after the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency approved a stormwater permit, the final state permit required for the project.
The controversial $2.6 billion project has been under review for the past six years.
Another lawsuit was filed in the state court of appeals by Friends of the Headwaters, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and Honor the Earth.
“Commissioner Bishop and the PCA have violated the PCA’s own mission statement in sanctioning the Line 3 401 permit. We believe that’s wrong, and that’s why Friends of the Headwaters is leading the effort to overturn their error in court,” said Richard Smith, President, Friends of the Headwaters.
“The White Earth Band continues to stand and protect the waters for the wild rice, the fish, the birds and the four-legged creatures who are our relations and gifts from the Creator” said Frank Bibeau, White Earth Tribal Attorney.
“We will continue to use every legal avenue available to stop the degradation of our waters for future generations to enjoy our Treaty protected resources on and off reservation.”
A lawsuit was filed last week from the White Earth and Red Lake Nations, which requested a delay of the project.
The filing emphasized an influx of workers into the rural pipeline corridor could overwhelm hospitals amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
