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Final review for Line 67 complete

Published by , Senior Editor
World Pipelines,


Enbridge’s push to carry an additional 390 000 bpd of oil between Canada and the Superior terminal on its Line 67 pipeline came one step closer with the release of the final supplemental environmental impact statement last Friday.

The US Secretary of State, former oil executive Rex Tillerson, will use the document to determine if the move is in the national interest and whether Enbridge can increase the flow of oil across the Canadian border.

Also known as the Alberta Clipper pipeline, Line 67 was built to handle up to 890 000 bpd of heavy crude oil but was initially permitted to carry just 500 000 bpd over a 3 mile stretch at an international border crossing near Neche, N.D. Storage capacity was added to the Superior terminal and pumping stations were upgraded in recent years in anticipation of the increased flow; no new pipe was or will be laid. The 1000 mile pipeline first came online in 2010.

Environmental and tribal advocates have attempted to stop the expansion to prevent further use of oilsands oil and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

A decision on the pipeline’s presidential permit could come this year.

The Department prepared an SEIS regarding the proposed Enbridge Line 67 Expansion, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as part of its review of Enbridge’s Presidential permit application. The SEIS supplements the analysis completed in the June 2009 Final Environmental Impact Statement (2009 EIS) prepared as part of the Alberta Clipper Presidential permitting process. The 2009 EIS documented the environmental impacts of the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of facilities at the United States-Canada border for Line 67 and associated facilities for importation of heavy crude oil from Canada.

The State Department published the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Final Supplemental EIS) for the proposed Line 67 Expansion. The State Department prepared the Final Supplemental EIS as part of its review of the Presidential permit application submitted by Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (Enbridge).

The Final Supplemental EIS is not a decisional document on whether to approve or deny the Presidential permit. The Final Supplemental EIS is a technical assessment of the potential environmental impacts related to the proposed pipeline.

The Secretary of State (or his delegate), based on Presidentially-delegated authorities under Executive Order 13337, will now conduct a careful review to determine whether issuance of a new permit to Enbridge would be in the national interest. To make this determination, the Secretary of State (or his delegate) considers many factors, including but not limited to, foreign policy; energy security; environmental, cultural and economic impacts; and compliance with applicable law and policy. The Department will also consult with the heads of certain other agencies pursuant to Executive Order 13337.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/regulations-and-standards/16082017/final-review-for-line-67-complete/

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