ST. PAUL (AP) — Minnesota regulators say they need more time to complete a draft environmental review of Enbridge Energy's proposed replacement for its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline.

The draft was tentatively set for release Monday, but the state Commerce Department has pushed the date back to May 15.

Release of the draft will be followed by a comment period that will include a minimum of 22 public information meetings, one in each county along the proposed routes. The Public Utilities Commission will use the final document in deciding on Enbridge's applications.

The $7.5 billion project would replace a nearly 60-year-old pipeline that Enbridge no longer runs at its original capacity. Line 3 runs 1,097 miles from Alberta, Canada, across northern Minnesota to Superior, Wisconsin. Environmental and tribal groups oppose the project.

More From AM 1240 WJON