Speak up to Protect Organic Farms from Damage to Soil Health, Organic Certification and Potential Contamination from Pipeline Routing.
Soil vs. Oil ........................................................ Kale vs. Koch
Do you think organic food should be grown on top of crude oil pipelines?
This summer you have a chance to speak up at a pipeline permit hearing and help protect all Minnesota organic farms.
As you may have heard, the Minnesota Pipe Line Company wants to run a crude oil pipeline across Minnesota to bring oil from Canadian oil sands to the Koch refinery in Rosemount. This pipeline would carry as much 350,000 barrels per day of petroleum crude oil and would operate at a maximum pressure of 1,462 pounds per square inch.
In order to avoid suburban areas, the CompanyŐs preferred route would cross 149 miles of farmland, including four organic farms. In itŐs plans for construction of the pipeline, removal of soil and use of chemicals, the Company makes no distinction between conventional and organic farms. The Company has proposed to route its crude oil pipeline through the center of the Gardens of Eagan organic farm, putting the survival of this certified organic farm at risk.
We know that organic farms are vulnerable to soil and ecosystem losses, chemical contamination and the risk of lower production as a result of pipeline construction, pipeline maintenance and the possibility of crude oil spills. For this reason, MOSES, the Land Stewardship Project, the Twin Cities Coops and the Organic Consumers Association have gotten involved in the Minnesota Pipe Line case to advocate that organic farms, like the Gardens of Eagan, should be avoided if there are feasible alternatives and that special precautions should be taken to protect organic ecosystems and certification.
The Minnesota Pipe Line CompanyŐs proposed plan to reduce harm to farmland -- the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan (AIMP) -- takes no additional precautions to protect organic agriculture. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Public Utilities Commission (the state agency that approves pipelines) are considering changes to the AIMP that would protect organic farms as a unique and sensitive land use.
Your testimony at the Minnesota Pipe Line case public hearings is critical to assure that changes are required in the AIMP to protect organic farms. Key points to make:
1. Pipelines should avoid organic farms if there are feasible alternatives.
2. If there are no feasible alternatives, specific precautions should be used in pipeline construction and maintenance on or near organic farms to protect soils from contamination and erosion and to rebuild and restore any organic soils which are disturbed.
3. Overall, the AIMP must require practices that preserve organic farms, not just compensation for damage or destruction of organic resources.
It is vitally important that organic farmers, alternative health practitioners, organic consumers and advocates speak up in favor of protecting organic farms. There will be an open public hearing in every county affected by the pipeline and you are needed to come and express your views. These views can influence not only the route of the Minnesota Pipe Line Company pipeline, but state policy on whether organic farms should be protected as pipelines, transmission lines and other infrastructure are planned to cross agricultural land. You can come testify in the Minnesota Pipe Line hearings even if this pipeline isnŐt planned to cross your land.
Gardens of EaganŐs Proposed Organic Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan and pre-filed expert testimony will be posted for you to read on August 7, 2006 at www.gardensofeagan.com.
The official page for the pipeline permit application is http://energyfacilities.puc.state.mn.us/Docket.html?Id=18339
Thank you for your willingness to speak up and help protect organic farms.
Notice of Public Meetings and Public Hearings
Minnesota Pipe Line Company Crude Oil Pipeline
Date County City Location
August 24, 2006 11 AM Clearwater Bagley County Courthouse
August 24, 2006 6 PM Hubbard Park Rapids Park Rapids High School
August 25, 2006 10 AM Wadena Menahga Woodside Manor Assisted Living Center
August 28, 2006 3PM Todd Staples Staples-Motley High School Cafeteria
August 29, 2006 1 PM & 6 PM Morrison Little Falls Falls Ballroom
August 30, 2006 1 PM & 7 PM Stearns Melrose American Legion
Sept. 5, 2006 4 PM Dakota Farmington High School Commons
Sept. 7, 2006 4 PM Scott New Prague High School Cafeteria
Sept. 8, 2006 4 PM Rice Lonsdale Crusader Civic Center
Sept. 11, 2006 11 AM Wright Cokato City Hall Auditorium
Sept. 11, 2006 5 PM Meeker Litchfield County Courthouse Rm. A and B
Sept. 13, 2006 4 PM McLeod Glencoe Lincoln Junior High School Gymnasium
Sept. 14, 2006 11 AM Sibley Arlington Community Center
Sept. 14, 2006 5 PM Carver Hamburg Hamburg City Hall
Tips on Public Testimony to Protect Organic Farms
1) Put your testimony in writing and bring a copy to give to the hearing judge and the court reporter.
2) Summarize your testimony Đ speak no more than 3 to 5 minutes.
3) Explain who you are and your experience with organic farming.
4) To the extent that you feel comfortable, speak about these key ideas:
If you cannot attend a public hearing you may send written testimony to:
RE: Minnesota Pipe Line Company Crude Oil Pipeline 15-2500-17136-2
Administrative Law Judge Beverly Heydinger
Office of Administrative Hearings
Suite 1700, 100 Washington Square
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Fax: 612-349-2665
And:
Gene Hugoson
Commissioner of Agriculture
625 N, Robert St.
St. Paul, MN. 55155
651-201-6219
Written comments from the public concerning the route and the Agricultural Impact Mitigation Plan shall be received at the Office of Administrative Hearings by September 22, 2006, and the hearing record will close on that date.