"Minnesota taxpayers might wonder why their money should flow to such an overtly political organization. One seemingly troubled by some serious institutional problems, no less."
Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said in a statement the company is "pleased with this decision that acknowledges the thorough, inclusive and science-based review of the Line 3 replacement project."
The environmentalists filed a civil complaint on July 16, 2021, arguing that the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office’s blockade on June 28, 2021 to the 80-acre camp was a violation of private property rights, including, in particular, an easement covering the driveway to the property.
Nearly 800 of several thousand demonstrators were charged with crimes, most of them stemming from protests during last year's construction. About a fifth of the cases remain open.
The site near LaSalle Creek in Hubbard County is one of three places where crews installing the Enbridge-owned pipeline last year caused uncontrolled flows of groundwater.
"Despite attempts by people like Winona LaDuke to try to confuse, mislead or misrepresent, reality is something that thankfully cannot be ignored," says Thief River Falls Mayor Brian Holmer.
Roughly a thousand people were arrested during those actions. Some were charged with relatively serious crimes, including gross misdemeanors and felonies.
Oil has been flowing through the completed pipeline for months now, but the White Earth Band of Ojibwe — Minnesota's largest Native American tribe with about 20,000 members — continues fighting the project in court, and through extraordinary surveillance efforts.
State regulators ordered Enbridge to stop the groundwater flows and restore the sites. The company already has paid more than $3 million for the violations, and could face additional penalties.
