 Minnesota regulators have issued a formal order approving Enbridge Energy's plan to replace its aging line three crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota clearing the way for opponents to appeal. The Public Utilities Commission voted in June to approve the project and filed its final written order today. Environmental and tribal groups plan to ask the Minnesota Court of Appeals to overturn that decision and they're now free to do so. Alberta-based Enbridge says it needs to replace line three which was built in the 1960s because it's increasingly subject to corrosion and cracking. But opponents say the new line which would follow a partly different route risk oil spills in the pristine Mississippi River headwaters region where Native Americans harvest wild rice and that it would aggravate climate change. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.