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by Julia Pekala
Many fear the risk of climate change today, although no community is more affected by these changes than Indigenous people, who closely rely on healthy ecosystems and natural resources to survive. However, the completed Line 3 Oil Pipeline threatens many Native communities in parts of the United States. and Canada.
A Canadian company, Enbridge, will replace the original Line 3 from 1960. The original pipeline ran 1,097-miles long, extending from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. The new line will follow the original route from Joliette, Dakota, to Clearbrook, Minnesota, but breaks off from the original route from Clearbrook to Superior, Wisconsin. As of September 29, the pipeline has been completed, and according to Enbridge’s CEO, Al Monaco, it will start to “deliver the low-cost and reliable energy that people depend on every day” on October 1st, and is expected to pump its full capacity of 790,000 barrels a day in mid-October.
The replacement project was sought out to improve the safety of the original pipeline, reducing the risk of spills, and improve the pipeline’s efficiency and capability. The pipeline transports crude oil, which is later refined into petroleum, an essential product in our everyday life, providing the United States with fuel to run vehicles, cook food, heat homes, and generate electricity. In early 2020, The Public Utilities Commission approved Line 3, pronouncing that it was vital to meet the regional oil demand. On the other hand, it was argued by the Minnesota Department of Commerce that the replacement pipeline was not needed since the demand for fossil fuel is expected to drop in the next couple of years.
Additionally, tar sands crude oil is a lot more expensive to extract than conventional oil, and many major oil companies have withdrawn investments from tar sands consistently. Tar sands crude oil is solid and therefore, has to be extracted by an open-pit mining process during which many carcinogenic - meaning substances which can potentially cause cancer - and toxic pollutants are put into the atmosphere and groundwater, putting nearby ecosystems at risk of serious harm. Also, tar sands are a heavier crude that consumes more energy and generates more carbon dioxide during the refining process than lighter oil, making it a substantial benefactor to climate change.
Al Monaco claims that, “From day one, this project has been about modernizing [Enbridge’s] system and improving safety and reliability for the benefit of communities, the environment, and [their] customers.” While one of the goals of this project was to improve the safety of Line 3 and replace it safely, there have not been many signs of this goal being put into action. During the building of the replacement pipeline, there were twenty-eight reported spills between June 8 and August 15, 2021 and the estimated amount of drilling fluid spilled ranges from 10 to 9,000 gallons. Furthermore, Enbridge pierced into an artesian aquifer while digging too deeply while working near Clearbrook, leading twenty-four million gallons of groundwater to leak. While the aquifer had been pierced in January 2020, the leak was found by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in June 2021. As a result of failing to follow environmental laws during the building process and failing to report the occurrence, the (DNR) ordered Enbridge to pay a fine of $3.32 million.
The risk of spills also affects wild rice beds which are a significant food source for surrounding Indigenous communities. Following the course of the current Line 3 Pipeline, 389 acres of wild rice in seventeen different wild rice water bodies are anticipated to be impacted. All these beds are located in the new part of the route, where no other pipeline has gone through previously. Some parts of the wild rice habitats have been demolished through the course of the development of the line, specifically with the effects caused by the amount of water removed for the production of the pipeline. Without the notice of local Native Tribes, the State Department of Natural Resources allowed Enbridge to pump five billion gallons of water out of some of the most important wild rice waters, streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers along the Mississippi River. Water levels and quality are known to affect wild rice survival and germination. Along with the destruction of some of the rice beds, there is also a fear of the inevitable oil spills caused by the pipeline. Additionally, around 180 areas of traditional culture and sacred sites are directly within the impact zone of the pipeline.
Along with affecting traditional Indigenous food sources, the replacement of Line 3 infringes on treaty rights. There is a direct violation of sovereignty, which is the right to self-determination and self-government that the US government guaranteed to tribal Nations. There was much opposition to this project, with more than 900 people being arrested or ticketed at protests ever since the beginning of construction in December. There have been several lawsuits filed over Line 3, one of the most notable ones being the Ojibwe’s lawsuit against Enbridge calling Manoomin - wild rice- as the lead plaintiff. However, all efforts seem futile as the pipeline is already up and running as early as this week.
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