PUC seeks to limit delay in Line 3 oil pipeline decision

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has decided to stick close to its original timeline for deciding whether to approve Enbridge Energy's proposal to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.

The April 30 target came into question after the PUC last month deemed the project's final environmental review to be inadequate and asked for further information.

An administrative law judge who will recommend to the PUC whether the project is needed then pushed back the briefing schedule. That could have delayed the PUC's final decision into September.

But the commission decided Tuesday against such a long delay and asked the judge to submit her report by April 23. Executive Secretary Dan Wolf says the PUC now expects to take up the issue sometime in June.

• Enbridge appeals to vacate an order that would shut down its pipeline
• Judge dismisses pipeline protest charges against 3 Native women
• DNR confirms new Line 3 aquifer breach in northern Minnesota
• Enbridge faces criminal charge, more fines over Line 3 construction