ST PAUL, Minn. — Editor's note: The video above originally aired May 27, 2021.
Tribal and environmental groups opposed to Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 oil pipeline have asked the Minnesota Supreme Court to overturn a lower court decision affirming the approvals of the project.
The state Commerce Department, which was part of the earlier appeal, is not joining in the appeal this time.
The legal move comes as protests continue along the route in northern Minnesota. A protest also occurred Wednesday afternoon at the State Capitol Rotunda, calling on Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to help stop the project.
More than 500 protesters have been arrested or issued citations since construction on the Minnesota leg of the project began last December. Meanwhile, opponents are demanding more transparency from state officials about a spill last week of drilling mud into a river that the pipeline will cross.
Investigators said the drilling mud was a combination of bentonite clay, water and xanthan gum, which it said is not toxic and commonly used as a food additive.
“There were no impacts to any aquifers nor were there downstream impacts because environmental control measures were installed at this location,” Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner stated.