STATEMENT FROM REP. FABIAN ON DISMISSAL OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LINE 3 APPEAL
St. Paul, MN – State Representative Dan Fabian, R-Roseau, Republican Lead on the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division, issued the following statement regarding Tuesday's decision by the Minnesota Court of Appeals to dismiss an appeal by the Minnesota Department of Commerce that aimed to reverse the unanimous decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to grant the certificate of need for the Enbridge Line 3 replacement pipeline. In the Order, the Court said that the Department of Commerce filed their original appeal too early, thus causing the dismissal. The Court went on to say that, according to state law, Governor Walz and his administration now until February 12 to file a petition for reconsideration.
“I strongly urge Governor Walz and his administration to trust the experts at the Public Utilities Commission and allow this project to move forward without more unnecessary roadblocks," said Rep. Fabian. “Governor Walz should not stand in the way of this desperately-needed project and the thousands of local jobs, millions in property tax revenue, and improved environmental protection for our land and water that this project will bring. Minnesotans do not have patience for more politically-motivated legal games—let the project move forward.”
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