Walz administration renews challenge to Line 3 oil pipeline

Gov. Tim Walz says his administration has renewed its challenge to a regulatory panel's approval of Enbridge Energy's plan to replace its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.

Walz told reporters Monday that the Commerce Department refiled its appeal last week with the Minnesota Court of Appeals, which had dismissed earlier appeals in the case on procedural grounds.

• Podcast: Listen to all of Rivers of Oil
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Twitter
• Full coverage of the Line 3 debate

The governor says the state's appeal shouldn't delay the permitting process for the pipeline. And he's critical of lawmakers who've tried unsuccessfully to prohibit the state from spending taxpayer money on the appeal, calling it a gross violation of the separation of powers.

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt says Republicans are dismayed by the decision. He says replacing Line 3 is the environmentally safest solution for transporting the oil.

• 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