St. Paul, MN – Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), the leading voice for sensible energy policies for families and businesses, expressed concern with today’s announcement by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) that it will conduct a contested case hearing on the 401 Water Quality Certificate permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project. CEA Midwest Executive Director Chris Ventura issued the following statement:
“Since March, Minnesota’s unemployment claims have skyrocketed to over 443,000 – more than the population of Minneapolis. Minnesotans want to get back to work and they want to provide for their families. Enough is enough with the political games that surround this essential pipeline project that is supported by the majority of the state.”
“How does the MPCA propose getting Minnesotans back to work and starting the process to rebuild local economies when they continue to move the goal posts for greatly needed employment-creating products? Previously, the MPCA stated that it would meet the U.S. Army Corp of Engineer’s August 15, 2020 deadline for review. Now, it’s changed course – again – extending the deadline to November 14 – therefore extending and further confusing the process. Minnesotans are feed up with bureaucrats continuing to exhaust every regulatory delay possible at the expense of workers and communities across the state.”
“After five years and 70 public hearings, what is left to contest on the most comprehensively studied infrastructure project in the state’s history? The Line 3 Replacement Project has been designed to safeguard our shared environment, minimizing the environmental impact during construction with full environmental restoration upon completion.”
“The politicking has to stop, these agencies need to quit acting as judge and jury and do their jobs to get Minnesotans back to work.”