The Minnesota Department of Commerce Friday filed a court appeal to block Enbridge's controversial Line 3 oil pipeline from moving forward.
The department alleges that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved the $2.6 billion project in June even though Enbridge hadn't filed an adequate long-term oil demand forecast as required under state law, according to a filing with the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
"The Department requests that the court of appeals determine whether the Commission committed legal error," the filing said. Enbridge, in a statement, said the Commerce Department's claims "are not supported by evidence or Minnesota law."
Three environmental groups and two American Indian bands earlier this week also filed with the Minnesota Court of Appeals, claiming, too, that Enbridge's oil demand forecast for Line 3 was inadequate.
The Commerce Department, an arm of the governor's administration, represents the public interest before the PUC, an independent agency.
"I strongly support my Commerce Department's appeal of the Public Utilities Commission's Order," Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement Friday. "Enbridge failed to provide a future demand forecast for its product, which is required by state law. Instead, the company presented its analysis of the future oil supply from Canadian tar sands extractions."

Enbridge, in a statement, called Dayton's remarks "very disappointing and erroneous." The company's "expert presented multiple detailed future forecasts all of which showed demand … [for] Line 3 is needed for years to come."
Asked to comment on the appeal, Gov.-elect Tim Walz said in a statement: "There is only one Governor at a time and Governor Dayton used his authority to appeal the PUC's determination." Walz's spokeswoman, Kayla Castañeda, said Dayton's office notified the transition team shortly before the announcement.