Hundreds pack Sandpiper hearing in Bemidji By Zach Kayser on Jan 7, 2015 BEMIDJI -- Roughly 500 people attended a hearing in Bemidji that may help decide the fate of the Sandpiper crude oil pipeline planned to cross northern Minnesota. Supporters and opponents of the $2.6 billion project put forward by Canada-based Enbridge Energy gathered on Wednesday at the Beaux Arts Ballroom inside Hobson Memorial Union at Bemidji State University for the third of five hearings this week organized by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, the regulatory body that has the power to approve or deny the project. Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman presided over the hearings, including Wednesdays. Lipman plans to use every oral comment provided at the hearings as well as written comments submitted to the PUC as evidence while he compiles a report for the commission to consider in their decision. The first hearing in the series, held Monday in St. Paul, lasted for six hours as hundreds of people spoke their mind. The second hearing, on Tuesday in Duluth, drew an outdoor protest against Sandpiper despite frigid temperatures. On Wednesday, Lipman said he would time each comment to ensure each person stayed within four to five minutes and that neither side could run out the clock. The Bemidji hearing was planned to have three 90-minute sessions, for a total of four and a half hours. The first two segments did not have any protests, although local American Indian environmental group Honor the Earth did appear to stage a drum circle and dance in the Hobson lobby during a recess. Although some commenters on both sides provided data points and source citations for their arguments, much of the words spoken Wednesday relied on emotional appeal. Sandi Krueger of Hackensack said a potential leak could jeopardize the areas key industry. The oil pipeline needs to stay away from our number one commodity: Tourism, she said. A pipeline problem could, in an instant, destroy the reasons why we are here. Continues: BENEFITS TO MINNESOTA REFINERIES? Adam Heinen, serving on the hearing panel as an analyst with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, said in his opening statement that Sandpiper would not benefit most Minnesota refineries as the pipeline would transport light crude as opposed to heavy crude, which the refineries specialize in. Minnesota refiners are not expected to benefit from Sandpiper, since they are primarily heavy oil operations, and their demand for light oil has remained constant, he said. Ending: Additional hearings on Sandpiper are planned for today in Crookston and Friday in St. Cloud. A trial-like evidentiary hearing is planned to take place later in January at the PUCs offices in St. Paul, Lipman said. Written comments can be submitted through Jan. 23. A final PUC decision on Sandpipers certificate of need is expected in June. More here: bemidjipioneer/news/local/3650313-hundreds-pack-sandpiper-hearing-bemidji
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 16:39:28 +0000
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