Monday, December 29, 2014

Public Comment on Sandpiper Pipeline (near Long Lake) Sought by PUC

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has just announced public hearings on whether there is a NEED for the first of the proposed oil pipelines, called Sandpiper (black line in map).  Members of the public can ask questions and comment at hearings scheduled for the week Jan 5-9, to be held in St Paul, Duluth, Bemidji, Crookston, and St. Cloud.  The PUC has the final say on this matter.

Comments can also be made on-line from December 8th through January 23rd here:  https://minnesotapuc.granicusideas.com/discussions/north-dakota-pipeline-company-llc-application-for-a-certificate-of-need-for-the-sandpiper-pipeline-project-in-minnesota-cn-13-473 or (if unobtainable) go to https://minnesotapuc.granicusideas.com/discussions and scroll way down to “North Dakota Pipeline Co”.

The Department of Commerce is also preparing an environmental analysis which may be issued in December.  So far there has been much evidence presented on how an oil leak could permeate through the aquifer to contaminate agricultural and private wells, shown in the map below.  Read the recent article in the Detroit Lakes Newspapers and reprinted in the Park Rapids Enterprise:  HubbardCOLAmn.org_article_park_rapids_enterprise_10-8-2014  and see http://www.friendsoftheheadwaters.org/ and http://www.hubbardcolamn.org/sandpiper-pipeline.html

Friends of the Headwaters (FOH) is now represented by the legal team at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA).  The Hubbard County Coalition of Lake Associations agrees with FOH on the importance of relocating the Sandpiper Pipeline Route away from our lake country's natural resources.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Ice Conditions

Each year, those of us that stay at the lake for the winter, watch and wait to declare the specific date that Long Lake is completely frozen over. As you know we still cannot declare ice in since the lake was only frozen over about three days starting December 5th. Because of the variations in temperatures and rain instead of snow during December, the deep areas of the lake opened up again.
The Park Rapids Enterprise is warning everyone with headlines such as "Water Gaps Developing on Area Lakes; Use Caution" and it mentioned Long Lake specifically in the short article.
The DNR is also posting warnings and safety guides to being on the ice:



Then we take a look at the 10 day weather forecast from weather.com:


The temperatures are dropping from Christmas Day on.  So we may get a completely frozen lake by Tuesday.
BE CAREFUL when planning your holiday lake fun.  

Reminders:  Long Lake Area Association is sponsoring a Kids Fishing Contest from now until the annual meeting.  For more details check out this link:


Also check out the new blog entry on The Long Lake Foundation website: (read about the generosity of our many Secret Santas)


Saturday, December 6, 2014

LLAA's December Email from Arthur Howe

Second Oil Pipeline Sought near Long Lake

Approval for a second oil pipeline near Long Lake is being sought.  This would carry tar sands from Alberta, Canada (top map) and continue in the US (bottom map) near Park Rapids.  It is known as Line 3 Replacement.  This second pipeline would run alongside the proposed Sandpiper line intended for North Dakota oil.  Canadian tar sands have been pumped by the applicant company, Enbridge, for many years but in 2010 large quantities of Canadian tar sands were spilled from a ruptured Enbridge pipe near Kalamazoo, Michigan.


Source: Enbridge: http://www.enbridge.com/Line3ReplacementProgram.aspx


On the map above are the dates when Enbridge Energy Partners are holding open houses.  Wednesday, December 10th, at the American Legion in Park Rapids.

Be sure to check out the following links for more information on this proposed pipeline:

Monday, December 1, 2014

Important December Dates for Long Lakers

Four Very Important Opportunities in December for Building our Knowledge to Enable us to Share and Protect our Long Lake Waters…  Plus Zorbaz, Saturday, 12/6 at 6 PM!

1)  Tuesday, Dec 2nd, 6:30 to 8 PM - Educational Water Program on our Local Hydrology at Northwoods Bank Community Room, Park Rapids, MN

  • The Park Rapids Lakes Area has earned a reputation based on our extraordinary clean waters.  These waters provide the base for our tourism and agriculture industries. In 2013 we hosted the Governor's Fishing Opener.  In 2014, the MN Department of Natural Resources developed the Straight River Pilot Groundwater Management Area (GWMAs ) planning project with the purpose to learn how to effectively create and establish GWMAs in other places facing groundwater management challenges.  Park Rapids League of Women Voters (LWVPR) will devote several educational programs related to the surface and groundwater of the region this year.
  • Darrin Hoverson, MN DNR Area Hydrologist-Ecological and Water Resources, will be the speaker for the first foundational program. This foundation program is Tuesday, December 2, from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Northwoods Bank Community Room (handicap accessible).  Darrin will share the uniqueness of our local hydrology.  This will give us all a better understanding of the permeability of the soils, the availability of the waters and special challenges.  He will also illustrate the replenishment cycle and how we affect the cycle. Building our knowledge can help us better plan to share and protect our waters from the groundwater to the surface waters.  We invite and encourage all to come to this free program. Light refreshments will be served.

2)  Wednesday, Dec 10th, 10 AM to 1 PM,  Open House for Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project at the American Legion, Park Rapids, MN

  • This Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project is proposed to go 25 feet from the Sandpiper Pipeline in the Pipeline Corridor proposed through Hubbard County to Superior, WI.  A Sandpiper route alternative RA-15 proposed by MPCA due to Twin Lakes area constraints  comes about ½ mile from west side of Long Lake by 87 & a leak could threaten our groundwater & aquifer.  Comment Period expected to be announced in mid-December yet on Sandpiper Certificate of Need 13-473 & the Hearings scheduled for 1/5-9/15.

3) Thursday, Dec 18, 9 AM to Noon, DNR Straight River Pilot Groundwater Management Area (GWMA) Planning Project Open for the Public – Long Lake is in this area.  To be held at the Park Rapids Library, Lower Level Conference Room (handicap accessible).

4) OPEN NOW for Public Comment until Thursday, 12/11/14 at 4:30 PM – MPCA Watershed Restoration And Protection Strategy document for the Crow Wing Watershed which Long Lake is in. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=21798
Comments submitted to:  bonnie.finnerty@state.mn.us  Bonnie Finnerty 218-316-3897 for questions.