An administrative law judge has ruled groups challenging plans for a new crude oil pipeline across Minnesota have failed to make their case.
Judge James LaFave says opponents of the project by Enbridge Energy didn’t prove it would permanently impact water quality and wetlands and they also didn’t prove the pipeline company had undercounted the amount of wetlands that would be affected.
The rebuilt Line 3 would cross 212 streams and impact more than 700 acres of wetlands in northern Minnesota.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency must decide whether to issue the final water permits by the middle of next month.
The DNR on Monday issued two out of 10 required permits.
These two permits, according to a release, involve protection of and proper construction practices near the Gully 30 Fen, a wetland, in a Polk County area near the town of Trail.
