Apparently the GOP legislators who wrote a letter to governor Dayton about the Sandpiper pipeline are happy with business as usual, despite evidence we need to stop being casual about our water supply. For decades, we've given pipeline companies carte blanche-they asked, they received-which resulted in an aging pipeline infrastructure right where it shouldn't be: in watery northern Minnesota, the worst possible place for oil pipelines. Despite what Rep. Lueck believes, the technology does not exist to operate pipelines safely, and we see it in the news again and again. Now, Enbridge wants to double down and expand its badly placed corridor into new waters. The pushback is for a reason-we can't continue to play fast and loose with our water supply, not even for money. Rep. Lueck is upset about delays in the process, but in fact the process is working just as it should: the citizens are having a say. If he supports the oil industry more than Minnesota citizens, we'll fix that in the next election. And meanwhile, I'll say it again, even though he apparently doesn't listen-Enbridge will not stop using trains to transport oil, even if there is a pipeline. If he is worried about train accidents, he should be taking Enbridge to task about it, not blaming citizens for fighting to protect what we love and need-clean water.
Janet Hill
McGregor
