The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on October 26 issued an order approving Enbridge Inc.’s proposed $7-Billion Line 3 replacement project, following a favorable vote in June. The formal ruling, which comes after much deliberation over replacing a 1960s-era line versus limiting environmental risks, opens the door for appealing the decision. Environmental groups like Sierra Club and local Native American tribes have strongly opposed the project arguing it risks spills in the Mississippi River headwaters region and would increase the flow of tar sands crude oil from Canada to U.S. refineries. The Line 3 project is designed to fully replace 1,031 miles of pipeline between Hardisty, Alberta, and Superior, Wisconsin.