On Monday, four protesters were arrested for attempting to close pipeline valves for Enbridge’s Line 3 and Line 4 pipelines which stretch across north-central Minnesota. The activists broke into a facility in southeast Grand Rapids and were able to find the shut-off valves for three pipelines, but Enbridge was able to remotely shut the pipeline down before the protesters took any dangerous action. 

This is not the first instance where protesters have attempted to disrupt pipelines in Minnesota. Back in 2016 three protestors were arrested for attempting to shut down Enbridge pipelines in Northwestern Minnesota.

Sen. Justin Eichorn (R-Grand Rapids) issued the following statement in response:

“The actions taken by these protesters were both reckless and dangerous and threatened the public safety of the residents of northern Minnesota,” said Sen. Eichorn. “Their attempt to shut down the pipeline is hypocritical, going against their notion that they stand for the environment when in reality their action threatens to cause billions of dollars of environmental damage.”

Last session, lawmakers in the Senate and the House approved a measure aimed at discouraging these dangerously illegal acts of protest. The law would have extended civil and criminal liability to any groups or organizations that recruit, trains, aids, or conspires with individuals who criminally trespass or damage Minnesota’s critical infrastructure such as airports, railroads, utilities, or oil or gas pipelines. Unfortunately, that bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Dayton.

Senator Eichorn has been a long supporter of the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project that would replace the current 1,031 miles of pipeline with the newest, safest, and most advanced pipeline technology while bringing jobs and significant investments to northern Minnesota.