Water Protectors Protest at Enbridge Drill Site on Mississippi River

Water Protectors protested and stopped construction of an Enbridge drilling site on the eastern shore of the Mississippi River, which is on the Line 3 pipeline route. From Stop Line 3. 

(Ball Bluff, MN) On March 22nd, members of the Ginew Collective supported by Northfield Against Line 3 exposed an Enbridge drilling worksite on the eastern shore of the Mississippi River on the proposed Line 3 route.

Construction workers in Enbridge vests were engaged in what appeared to be core sampling for a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) to bore Line 3 under the Mississippi River. No work permits were posted or produced upon repeated inquiry of onsite workers.

Last week, collective members spotted the same drilling operation on the western shore of the Mississippi River, along with a posted notice by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR Notice No. 18024231) at the shore stating permanent structures could not be established.

Minnesota has not issued the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) or DNR permits required for Line 3 construction across wetlands or water crossings. Minnesota announced the 401 water quality certification process will not be complete until fall 2019.

Approximately 12 minutes after approaching the Enbridge worksite from the river shoreline, a helicopter flew in then hovered for several minutes over concerned citizens as workers took photos of each citizen. Enbridge workers then left the worksite and collective members continued on their hike. No arrests were made.

A live-streamer stated, “Be aware that despite the so-called ‘delays’ of the Line 3 project, that indeed we are seeing construction in the state of Minnesota, we’re watching them drill into the shore of the Mississippi River and they’ve got all their flags marked out behind us.

People should be aware of what’s actually happening on the Line 3 proposed route. A lot of people are focused on the Governor. A lot of people are focused on the state process, but here we’re seeing that the state process is not being followed. That the Enbridge Corporation is drilling into our soil, drilling into our river, trying to figure out how they’re going to move their tar sands project forward.

I want to know as a concerned citizen, why is this happening? Why are these guys allowed to be here drilling into the shores of our river without a permit? Is this what the process looks like? Is this what following the law looks like?”