St. Paul, Minnesota — The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission today found the revised Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the proposed Line 3 Pipeline Replacement project is adequate as defined under Minnesota Rules Chapter 4410.

On December 14, 2017, the Commission issued its Order Finding Environmental Impact Statement Inadequate. The Order identified four specific deficiencies in the FEIS that was issued by the Minnesota Department of Commerce on August 17, 2017.

The Department issued a revised FEIS on February 12, 2018 containing the agency’s work to address these identified deficiencies. That same day, the Commission issued a Notice seeking comments on that filing. At today’s hearing, the Commission also received comments regarding the matter from all of the parties that filed comments on the revised FEIS.

The applicant, Enbridge Energy Limited, must be granted a Certificate of Need and, if found to be needed, a Pipeline Route Permit from the Commission before construction on the proposed pipeline can begin. The Commission has asked the Administrative Law Judge presiding over the Contested Case on the merits the Enbridge applications to submit her Report and Recommendations by April 23. That would allow the Commission to consider the merits of the applications in June.

The Docket numbers are 14-916 for the Certificate of Need and 15-137 for the Route Permit.

Information about the Commission can be found on the Commission’s website at mn.gov/puc or by contacting the agency’s Consumer Affairs Office at consumer.puc@state.mn.us or 800-657-3782 | 651-296-0406.