Earlier this week, Bluestem posted Oops: Enbridge to pay $11 million for series of aquifer breaches during Line 3 construction.
But fines and such are no substitution for sound policy making. Or putting the payment into perspective.
We're encouraged to read the statement by the Chair of the Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee, Rick Hansen, DFL-S. St. Paul. From the Minnesota House, Rep. Hansen statement on Enbridge Settlement:
On Monday, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Natural resources announced a settlement with Enbridge for its water quality violations and aquifer breaches. The settlement consists of more than $11 million in payments, environmental projects, and financial assurances from Enbridge. Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South St. Paul), chair of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement:
“While it is appropriate that Enbridge was held accountable to the highest extent allowed by current statute, that extent is ultimately inadequate. The amount of the settlement is a drop in the bucket for a corporation which had an annual revenue of $41.288 Billion last year. In order to hold these corporations fully accountable it’s critical that we update our environmental regulations to modern standards. The House passed such a law last session, HF 3761, but it failed to make it through the Majority GOP Senate. I will continue to push for this legislation and ask each of my colleagues who value our environment to do the same.”
Photo: Enbridge's Line 3 oil pipeline under construction near the intersection of Hohensee and West Moorhead roads in Carlton County in January 2021. Source: Clint Austin / File / Duluth News Tribune via the West Central Tribune.
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If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.
I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6
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