Help Ron monitor the Line 3 Environmental Impacts

Boozhoo!

 

My name is Ron Turney. I'm a Water Protector from the White Earth Nation. Over the past year, I've been diligently monitoring and documenting what Enbridge's Line 3 destruction project has done to our wetlands, rivers, and aquifers.

 

 

 

 

I started this GoFundMe to URGENTLY raise funds to purchase some new equipment to help my efforts.

Time is NOT on our side and winter approaches quickly! Enbridge is trying to force this project thru, cutting corners, and counting on keeping the public and regulators in the dark.

 

Not Reporting Accidents like Frac-outs and Aquifer Breaches

 

I've been documenting the Enbridge Line 3 "frac-outs" since July. Their HDD operations utilize a "slurry" of drilling mud along with 17 additives that are harmful to certain areas, such as wetlands and low areas. Since then, I've been out looking after the water and wetlands documenting almost daily.

 

Below are images of the July 20th frac-out along the Mississippi River that the Army Corps toured and became witness to "two" additional frac-outs that were previously unreported to MPCA.

 

 

Above is the July 20th frac-out which released drilling fluids that were confirmed by MPCA to contain a harmful additive named Polyselect POWERPAC-L which should never enter a waterway. It requires "Scoop and Removal" for proper cleanup. As seen above, they didn't clean it up very well.

 

Pictured above, is the July 20th frac-out location with the rust-colored sludge that settled to the bottom of the wetland. I have samples from this area and brought a brick of drill mud to Washington DC.

 

 

Pictured above, are TWO UNREPORTED frac-outs that were witnessed by Water Protectors and US Army Corps Jaime Pinkham and staff on July 21st. This is evidence of two felonies according to MN Statute 609.671.

 

 

Recent Rainfall and Rising Drilling Fluids

 

Pictured above is the East Easement on September 20th near the Mississippi River just 7 miles from the Headwaters. It rained about 1 inch the night before and a local hydrologist said if there was drilling fluids in the aquifer, the increased rainfall would push them to the surface. This took longer than normal because of extreme drought.

 

 

Pictured above is the SAME location 1 month later October 19th. The drilling mud and additives have turned into rust-colored sludge.

 

Lack of Oversight by MPCA, DNR, EPA, and USACOE.

 

In January 2021, Enbridge breached an artesian aquifer near Clearbrook, MN, and FAILED TO REPORT the accident to the regulators like MN DNR or MPCA. It took an Independent Environmental Monitor like myself to notice the issue and notify MN DNR in June, 6 months later.

 

Below are images I took 10-18-21 and it shows that they clearly missed their October 15th deadline to have the aquifer repaired.

 

 

 

 

MN DNR is investigating 2 additional aquifer breaches by Enbridge. They have also forwarded the information to Clearwater County Attorney's office for criminal charges.

 

Evidence of Crimes

 

According to MN Statute 609.671 environmental crimes, Enbridge may have committed numerous FELONIES by their Failure to Report spills and accidents. I've forwarded my footage to MN Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Environmental Division to look into criminal charges.

 

On-Going Oversight and Documentation

 

The equipment I'm looking to purchase would have increased capabilities to detect aquifer breaches and monitor the Line 3 project more closely. This disaster is spilling fluids daily at the Mississippi River, with the new equipment, I could identify and confirm any additional aquifer breaches along the route and continue to monitor and document them.

 

My footage has been crucial to pressuring the US Army Corps, MPCA, DNR, and EPA to do their jobs.

 

With your help, I can continue to look after the water and the land and #StopLine3!

 

Miigwech!

 

Ron Turney

White Earth Nation