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Sec. Clinton Warned by Minnesotans: Enbridge Dirty Oil Project Should Not Be Approved
Media Releases | Indigenous Environmental Network | dirtyoilsands.org | August 06, 2009
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Contact:
Marty Cobenais, Indigenous Environmental Network, 218 760-0284 martyc@ienearth.org
Clayton Thomas-Muller 218 760-6632 monsterredlight@gmail.com
Lisa McCrummen, Dirty Oil Sands Network (206) 321-9461 lisa@dirtyoilsands.org
Minnesota August 6 – Today, Leech Lake Tribal Members and the Indigenous Environmental Network began outreach to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her to deny the permit for the Alberta Clipper pipeline, slated to bring vast amounts of Canada’s oil sands into the US. They also are conducting outreach to other D.C. based politicians and policy makers.
“We want to make sure she has a clear picture about the extraordinary problems that are associated with this pipeline ranging from tribal sovereignty issues —- to oil spill concerns — to putting America’s second largest bald eagle population at risk —- not mention our concern about how this impacts building a clean energy economy and a responsible climate future,” says Marty Cobenais of Indigenous Environmental Network.
The groups concerns outlined in the letter (below) include an upcoming referendum vote to void Leech Lake tribal agreement with Enbridge; a lawsuit and request for an injunction against Enbridge; habitat for a major Bald Eagle nesting area is at risk with recent oil spills on record; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has stepped into the process because land owner allotment agreements have not yet been approved.
Bill Schroeder, a non-tribal member also represents a growing number of concerned landowners saying, “I don’t want Enbridge to take over my property, but they just keep saying ‘Eminent Domain’. I guess what that means is big oil can just take my land away, and I can’t do anything about it.”
The group also is concerned that this pipeline is part of a larger project that threatens the Great Lakes, and would crisscross the Northern Plains and Native American reservations. Proposed pipelines would run through the Dakotas, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Farmers, ranchers, tribes and Midwestern landowners have all opposed the pipelines, citing risks of oil spills and water and air pollution and will lock the US into a dirty energy future, just as the country is moving to the new energy economy.
A decision was expected by the State Department in early July, 2009 but the permit has not yet been approved. Last week Minnesota Leech Lake tribal members held a rally and marched down a Minnesota highway near the Leech Lake. Non-tribal members joined hundreds of native Americans who attended.
In the coming weeks tribal members plan to request in-person meetings in Washington DC to discuss their concerns with those copied on the letter.
IEN/Leech Lake Ojibwe letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
July 31, 2009
Mrs. Hillary Clinton
United States Secretary of State
Washington, D.C.
Dear Madame Secretary,
The Indigenous Environmental Network and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Members that belong to the group known as THE IN ZHA WEN DUN AKI (Ojibwe meaning Loving Mother Earth), request that you delay an decision on the Alberta Clipper Pipeline Presidential Permit. Consistent with concerns expressed by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and a number of First Nations in British Columbia, we have serious unresolved concerns about allowing the world’s most environmentally destructive and carbon intensive oil, through the Alberta Clipper Pipeline, to cross our tribal and allotted lands.
In a recent editorial from Minnesota Congressman James Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, regarding the clean energy bill, “Nineteenth Century solutions, like drilling for oil, are no longer adequate to address the problems we face today. America has a unique opportunity to develop new technologies for new energy producing industries that will operate more cost effectively; this is what America does best.” While we are not talking oil drilling we are talking about the dependency of oil in the U.S.
We ask that you delay any decision on the permit for five reasons:
First, you may not be aware that, currently, the Leech Lake Tribal Council’s decision to exchange access for the pipeline for funds from Enbridge has been challenged by tribal members. Almost 700 Leech Lake Tribal Members have signed petitions that seek a referendum vote on the tribal council agreement with Enbridge. The right to seek a referendum vote is granted to them in the Minnesota Chippewa Tribes Constitution, Articles 13, and 14. The referendum seeks to void the agreement with Enbridge. The outcome of that vote, under the tribal constitution, is binding. This tribal constitutional process must be allowed to run its course. Until that process has been completed, it is premature for the U.S. Government to issue any permits that might be counter to a final decision by the tribal members. Considerations of tribal sovereignty and government to government respect require this.
Second, a lawsuit and request for an injunction from the Leech Lake Tribal Courts has been filed, with regard to the agreement with Enbridge. This legal action, will be heard by the court on August 14, 2009. The lawsuit, if successful, would prevent Enbridge from moving forward on the portion of the Alberta Clipper pipeline that crosses the Leech Lake Reservation.
Third, the Leech Lake Reservation is home to the 2nd largest Bald Eagle Nesting Area in the United States, second only to Alaska. The Bald Eagle is not only the U.S. National Bird, but is also on the endangered species list. An oil leak has already occurred within two miles of a lake that houses many active nests. An oil spill could cause irreparable damages to the number of Bald Eagles that nest in the area.
Fourth, The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has informed Enbridge that CFR.25, Section 169, has not been completed. In Section 169, Enbridge must seek allotment land owners and their heirs to obtain 51% approval from the heirs to accept the agreements for their respective lands. There is one allotment land tract that is within the Leech Lake Reservation, and 5 allotment land tracts in the Fond-du-Lac Reservation. The Alberta Clipper pipeline crosses the Fond-du-Lac Reservation, which is located 20 miles southwest of Duluth, Minnesota. According to BIA reality staff located in Bemidji, Minnesota. Enbridge is allowed to survey the proposed pipeline route with the approval of the tribe or land owner first. Enbridge is not allowed to do any work on the pipeline within the reservation boundaries until a completed application is submitted and approved by the Leech Lake Tribe or BIA. As of Thursday, July 30, 2009, the BIA has not obtained an received a application from Enbridge. BIA officials state that approval is not expected until at least the January of 2010.
Finally, we have heard from both directly impacted First Nations in Alberta and from potentially impacted First Nations in British Columbia regarding their concerns about the oil sands and related pipelines. The significant downstream health impacts from oil sands development to the ACFN have largely been ignored by the various levels of Canadian government, and remain unaddressed. There is also growing concern across North America regarding the larger plans to continue to expand this country’s reliance on Canada’s oil Sands. Many are beginning to recognize and question policies that welcome the supple Canada’s oil sands, given that doing so undermines efforts to address climate change, and pollutes many communities’ air and water.
We wholeheartedly agree with your recent statement: “The challenges of change are always hard. It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize that we each have a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future.” We ask that you begin that process of change by not taking action on this particular permit until our concerns have been addressed.
Respectfully,
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Tagged with: alberta clipper, enbridge, indigenous environmental network, hillary clinton, leech lake tribe, eminent domain
