Enbridge comes to agreement on Line 3 penalties

October 17, 2022

The Line 3 Replacement Project was built under the most comprehensive regulatory framework in the history of Minnesota resulting in the issuance of over 60 federal, state, local, and Tribal approvals. These approvals included the strictest environmental requirements in state history.

Enbridge, with the support of union and Tribal contractors, implemented strong environmental safeguards and protections to meet these regulatory requirements and protect natural resources. This included construction oversight by agency and Tribal monitors with the authority to stop construction at any time. When events were identified, Enbridge reported them transparently and corrected them consistent with plans approved by the agencies.

As part of these agreements with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, Enbridge will provide the various entities a total of $11 million (US), the vast majority of which—$7.5 million—will be used to provide financial assurances and fund multiple environmental and resource enhancement projects.

The Minnesota Attorney General will file a misdemeanor criminal charge for the taking of water without a permit at the Clearbrook aquifer—that charge against Enbridge will be dismissed following one-year of compliance with state water rules.

We appreciate that we were able to come to agreement with the agencies and are committed to making this right.

The Line 3 Replacement Project was a maintenance- and safety-focused effort totaling $9 billion in private investment. It modernized and replaced energy infrastructure on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. A total of $3 billion was spent in Minnesota alone with an overall regional economic impact of $5 billion.

The project was completed and placed into service October 1 of last year.