CODE RED: President Biden DNR and Gov. Walz Unwilling to Stop Line 3 On-going Waters and Wetlands Contaminations
BAGLEY, MINN. – September 27, 2021 -- Enbridge Line 3 construction continues to violate federal 404 and state 401 clean water act permits in Minnesota because the DNR, MPCA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers are unwilling to stop the violators, Enbridge Line 3.
“There's a situation growing at Clearwater River crossing near Bagley and Highway 2,” reported drone photographer, Ron Turney, Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN ). “Today, I noticed lots of fluids all over the work yard. It looks like an HDD waste containment failure, new black trucks monitoring the pumps, more workers. Not sure but doesn't look good!”
New Frac-outs Reported by the Indigenous Environmental Network Monitor in Clearwater River Tributaries and the Mississippi River Headwaters
Turney has been recording and posting photos and videos about various spills, vegetation kills and frac-outs resulting from HDD drilling activities, some showing chemicals rising in the Clearwater tributary, killing all vegetation it touches. “Same color of chemical sheen as seen at Camp Firelight near the Mississippi,” said Turney, “and there's more drill fluids rising along the east easement. Notice the dark reddish mud the same color as the waste in the massive tanks.”
Independent Report Entered as “Exhibit A” in the Lawsuit Details the Damage and timeline of DNR and Enbridge Negligence and Coverup
In a related legal effort to Stop Line 3 construction Manoomin (wild rice) and Water Protectors have filed for another Preliminary Injunction, this time in White Earth Tribal Court of Appeals against the Minnesota DNR to cease all surface and groundwater drawing permits and all discharge and dewatering permits . . . all wanton waste of fresh water related activities.
“The Rights of Manoomin, the Rights of Nibi (water), all the Rights of Nature are being violated by the DNR every day the DNR lets Enbridge Line 3 continue irreparably destroying our freshwater drinking aquifers, rivers, lakes and wetlands,” said Michael Fairbanks, Chairman White Earth Band of Ojibwe.
“We are all Water Protectors! That is except the DNR and Enbridge,” Fairbanks continued., “I’m wondering when the federal government will wake up and smell the CODE RED issued by the UN on climate AND smell the forest fire smoke during our drought? CODE RED President Biden! Tell Jaime Pinkham and the Corps of Engineers to shut Line 3 down ASAP!”
Exhibit A for Manoomin’s Motion for Injunction is a report explaining how Enbridge violated water protection rules again while MNDNR stands by Jeffrey S. Broberg, LPG, MA, Minnesota Licensed Professional Geologist dated September 22, 2021. Mr. Broberg is an Expert Witness in the Manoomin v DNR case explaining how the DNR 5 billion gallons dewatering permit in June 2021 and the $3.3 M fine and restoration order in September 2021 provide a clear chronology of events outlining Enbridge’s cover-up and concealment (since Jan 2021) of the aquifer breach (24M/gallons so far).
The Motion for Injunction alleges DNR permits are part of an after-the-fact DNR permitting cover-up with Enbridge, and that at the same time, the MPCA is quietly ignoring frac-outs as a reason to stop pollution waters.
“This is Manoomin ecocide,” said Winona LaDuke of Honor the Earth. “Enbridge screwed up right in the beginning of construction in January 2021 and the independent environmental monitors Enbridge hired told no one for months and the DNR is letting Enbridge continue!?” LaDuke added, “Calling all Water Protectors! CODE RED!! This is our Standing Rock moment for Line 3, right beside U.S. Highway 2 in Bagley, Minnesota. WE THE PEOPLE must RISE and come together, here and now to STOP LINE 3!”
Contacts:
Frank Bibeau (218) 760-1258 frankbibeau@gmail.com
Jeffrey Broberg (507) 273-4961 brobergmnwoo@gmail.com
Ron Turney (218) 760-2578 ronblkcld@gmail.com
TAKE ACTION: Time is running out, but we aren't backing down.
The destruction caused by Line 3 of our waters and wetlands, like climate change, isn’t coming. It’s already here. Yet, our government is doing nothing about it.
Right now in Minnesota, Enbridge is preparing to announce—in roughly a week’s time—plans to fill the expanded Line 3 tar sands pipeline. In as soon as three weeks, oil will likely be flowing through our precious wetlands—threatening the very way of life of our people. Enbridge is already causing ongoing destruction from a hurried and reckless pipeline construction. Water protectors keep documenting new, unremediated spills of drilling fluid in our rivers and wild rice territory. Enbridge has even already been fined $3.2 million for damaging an aquifer.
One local said it perfectly - "It's going to spill.” And on the days it doesn't spill, the tar sands oil will add 50 coal plants worth of climate damaging carbon to the atmosphere.
Time may be running out, but we’re not backing down. At any time Biden can order the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a full environmental review, including an Environmental Impact Statement that takes into account treaty rights and climate. Together, we are reminding the President of the promises he made that got him elected. Why? Because he can’t just destroy the Ojibwe people, while claiming to want to “Build Back Better.”
That’s why I am asking you to join me, water protectors, and leaders all over the U.S. — from Tribal governments including tribal leaders like those of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, to state legislators and members of Congress (not to mention hundreds of community, environmental and racial justice organizations joining our movement) — to stop this dirty pipeline for good.
Join us in calling on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a full Environmental Impact Statement before the pipeline is allowed to operate. Join us in calling on the Biden Administration to order the same review that the Trump administration skipped. Join us in demanding that Minnesota's statewide leaders like Governor Walz, Senators Smith, Klobuchar and others, call on them to do it.
Help us hold Enbridge accountable for failing our communities, environment, and Indigenous rights.
The truth is, there are endless reasons to review Line 3 and this movement has been speaking up about every one of them. But only one reason really matters — it’s dead wrong. Why? It violates every ounce of common sense. It is injustice, hypocrisy, and exploitation at its finest.
Many thousands of us have already asked President Biden to direct the Army Corps to pause Line 3 pending proper environmental review and consultation (tell him again here). The President is most likely to act if Minnesota's key state leaders--especially Governor Wal, who bears direct responsibility for this disastrous project--call on his to do so.
So tweet Gov Tim Walz today. Then take the next step and contact your Senator, telling them to join the many other Senators that are speaking out. Don’t back down. We can’t and won’t stop until they stop Line 3.