What: Bemidji area residents concerned about Enbridge Line 3 and its effects on water quality, climate, property rights and treaty rights will share their perspectives at a news conference prior to the public meeting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Prior to the news conference, jingle dress dancers will be walking from a community gathering at Chief Bemidji at the Paul and Babe Waterfront Park and will perform a short dance before the news conference.
Who:
- Winona LaDuke, a lifelong activist from the White Earth Nation and executive director of Honor the Earth. She will be speaking about the impacts of Line 3 on tribal communities and lack of need for this project.
- Hannah Smith, a member of the White Earth Band and recent graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth. She will be speaking on how this proposed pipeline will impact her community and herself, as a young person.
- Jim Reents, leader of the Pipeline Working Group for the Northern Water Alliance, which is engaged in protecting Minnesota’s northern water resources. He will be speaking on the gaps of the DEIS.
- Annie Humphrey, a member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe from Deer River. She will be speaking on the creation of the Daughter Water Walker and the importance of water.
- Natalie Cook, organizer with Sierra Club. She will be speaking on the climate impacts of the Line 3 Pipeline.
When: 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 22, 2017
Where: Outside the Sanford Center and George W. Nielson Convention Center
1111 Event Center Drive NE
Bemidji, MN 56601
Why: Enbridge Energy, a Canadian Energy Company, has proposed to abandon a large portion of its existing Line 3 tar sands pipeline and instead build a larger tar sands pipeline, including a portion along a new route. As part of the Certificate of Need process, the State of Minnesota is required to complete an Environmental Impact Statement. Twenty-two public meetings are scheduled by the Minnesota Department of Commerce in every county where the proposed pipeline – covering 337 miles in Minnesota – would be installed or the aging pipeline abandoned.
What Else?
The Bemidji public meeting is the last of 22 hearings scheduled across the state. The public comment period for the DEIS will remain open until July 10. Comments may be emailed, mailed or faxed. Details at the Department of Commerce.
Marty Cobenais, Sierra Club Executive Committee member of the Bemidji area, commented, “The draft Environmental Impact Statement has found the potential for significant impacts on Minnesota’s waters and natural resources. We are fortunate to live in a region with beautiful lakes and the iconic Mississippi River, and pristine wild rice areas that are critical to local Native American Communities. The Line 3 proposal is simply too much of a risk.”
Reporters wishing to conduct interviews prior to 5:30 p.m. Thursday should call Natalie Cook at 651-295-3483 to make arrangements.
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