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OutdoorMN News - DNR to host webinars about Enbridge Line 3 license and permit applications


Rick

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Agency will provide information on project and how to comment

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will conduct three informational webinars in late April and early May about Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline replacement project. These webinars will focus on the project, how people can comment on the company’s applications, and the DNR’s decision-making process. 

Enbridge needs several licenses and permits to construct and operate a replacement of the Line 3 oil pipeline across Minnesota. The DNR is accepting comments through May 17 on Enbridge’s applications for those licenses and permits.

In addition to describing the Line 3 comment process, the webinars will help people understand the scope of the project and the DNR’s role in it.

“These webinars are a great chance for people to learn more about the Line 3 project,” said DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen. “We want the public to have a clear understanding of the license and permit applications to help inform their comments on the project.”

The webinars will be held April 29 starting at 2:30 p.m.; April 30 starting at 10 a.m.; and May 6 starting at 3 p.m. Each webinar will be approximately 90 minutes in duration. The first webinar on April 29 will provide an overview of the Line 3 replacement project and the DNR’s role in regulating the project. Webinars 2 (April 30) and 3 (May 6) will focus in more detail on the 10 applications Enbridge has submitted to the DNR. The content of webinars 2 and 3 will be essentially the same, meaning there is no need to view both webinars.

Before April 29, the DNR will issue a separate news release to provide instructions on how to login to the webinars. The DNR also encourages interested individuals to sign up for email updates about the Line 3 project using the link at mndnr.gov/line3.

Following an informational presentation, each webinar will include a 30-minute question and answer period. This will be an opportunity for participants to submit questions about the applications and DNR process for review. The DNR will not be taking public comments as part of the webinars. (See below to learn how to comment.) The DNR will answer as many questions as possible in the 30-minute period.

Questions may also be submitted to the DNR in advance of the webinars. Questions can be submitted electronically on the DNR line 3 webpage (mndnr.gov/line3) in advance or via a written text portal during each webinar.

Each of the webinars will be recorded and will be available later on the DNR Line 3 webpage (mndnr.gov/line3).

Public viewing opportunities
Minnesotans will be able to view the webinars using their own computers and other devices, or from three locations in northern Minnesota:

Park Rapids, Hubbard County:
Hubbard County Government Center
Room #324 – County Board room
301 Court Ave.
Park Rapids, 56470

Clearbrook, Clearwater County:
Clearbrook Community Center
Melody Room
200 Elm St.
Clearbrook, 56634

Floodwood, Saint Louis County:
The Event Center
201 W 7th Ave.
Floodwood, 55736

The community viewing locations are for people who may not have computers or high-speed internet. There will also be an opportunity for people attending the viewing locations to submit questions during the 30-minute question and answer sessions. These sites are intended only to provide access to view the webinar and submit questions. The viewing locations will not provide an opportunity for participants to comment on the project or to address other participants at the site. (See below to learn how to comment.)

How to comment on Enbridge applications
Although the webinars will not include public comment opportunities, the DNR is accepting public comments on the Enbridge applications through May 17. The DNR will review and consider all comments received on the license and permit applications before making any final decisions. The DNR will not be providing individualized responses to comments.

The most helpful comments will be specific to one or more applications pending before the DNR and will address:

  • Additional information needed in the application(s).
  • Identification of specific resources or areas that warrant special consideration.
  • Recommendations on permit/license conditions or limitations.
  • The application’s (applications’) consistency with state statute and rule.

Comments that express support for or opposition to the project as a whole, or that address the Minnesota Public Utility Commission’s prior decisions on project need and route, do not relate to the criteria the DNR must use in making its decisions on pending applications. Therefore, such comments will not inform the DNR’s decision-making.

In addition to obtaining DNR approvals, the project will need additional approvals from tribal governments, local governments, and other state and federal agencies. There is ongoing coordination between the DNR, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Minnesota Department of Commerce, to ensure efficient and effective regulation of the project.

Line 3 is one of six Enbridge oil pipelines that cross Minnesota. Enbridge is proposing to replace the existing Line 3 with a new, higher capacity line. The Public Utilities Commission has granted Enbridge a certificate of need and a route permit for the Line 3 replacement, which would follow the existing Line 3 route in places and a new alignment in other areas.

The DNR is seeking public comment on the following applications:

  • Utility Crossing License for State Land.
  • Utility Crossing License for Public Water.
  • Water Appropriation for Hydrostatic Testing and Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD).
  • Water Appropriation for Trench and Construction Dewatering.
  • Water Appropriation for Dust Control.
  • Water Appropriation for Construction Near Gully 30 (calcareous fen).
  • Work in Public Waters for Public Water Wetlands on Private Land.
  • Work in Public Waters for Willow River Bridge.
  • Calcareous Fen Management Plan (Gully 30).
  • Threatened and Endangered Species Taking Permit.

All permit and license applications are available for review at mndnr.gov/line3.

The DNR will accept comments through 4:30 p.m. May 17. Comments may be submitted online at mndnr.gov/line3. Comments may also be mailed to the DNR at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul MN 55155-4025, Attention Line 3 Replacement Applications.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
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