Enbridge granted additional Line 3 approvals in Minnesota
On the 12th November two Minnesota agencies announced their approvals of several permits for Enbridge Inc’s plan to replace its Line 3 crude oil pipeline.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued a Section 401 water quality certification under the Clean Water Act for the project, as well as a wastewater permit and an approval for an air emissions cap.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources granted the remaining eight of the department’s ten permits needed by the project for a variety of environmental requirements, such as a permit to work in public waters and another to string utilities across state lands.
“Enbridge must obtain additional regulatory approvals from other state, tribal and federal agencies prior to construction,” the department said.
Most notably, the project needs a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a strong advocate of oil development, tweeted his congratulations for the state permits. Environmental opponents issued statements of hope for litigation or Governor Tim Walz to block the project.
The Line 3 replacement would add 370,000 b/d of capacity to the line, currently limited to 390,000 b/d. That would bring the line back up to the 760,000 b/d level it had reached before voluntary restrictions on its pressure reduced its flows.
The line was built in the 1960s and will need a large volume of annual maintenance work to keep it in shape if it is not replaced.
Line 3 runs from Edmonton, Alberta., to Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge hopes to replace all of the 1,031 miles from Hardisty, Alberta., to Superior.
The capital cost for the US segments of the project would be US$2.9 billion.
Enbridge has already replaced several segments, including some in Canada, most of the 13 miles in North Dakota and all of the 14 miles in Wisconsin.
The replacement segment in Minnesota would be 337 miles, with eight pump stations.
Source: Oil & Gas Journal