Sandpiper Pipeline Project area meetings scheduled
The North Dakota Pipeline Company LLC (NDPC) is proposing to construct and operate a new 616-mile oil pipeline that would extend from Beaver Lodge Station, south of Tioga, North Dakota through a new terminal at Clearbrook, Minnesota and then on to an Enbridge affiliate’s terminal and tank farm in Superior, Wisconsin.
The proposed project, called the Sandpiper Pipeline project (or Sandpiper), includes about 303 miles of new pipeline in Minnesota. NDPC is proposing to install 24-inch diameter pipeline from the North Dakota border to Clearbrook, and 30-inch diameter pipeline from Clearbrook to the Wisconsin border. The project also includes construction of a new oil terminal at Clearbrook and upgrades to the existing Pine River facility.
The proposed project is located in Polk, Red Lake, Clearwater, Hubbard, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, and Carlton counties.
Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (Enbridge) is proposing the Line 3 Replacement project in order to address safety and integrity issues associated with the existing Line 3 pipeline. The pipeline replacement is proposed to follow existing Line 3 from the Minnesota-North Dakota border to Clearbrook and then follow the same route proposed for the Sandpiper pipeline from Clearbrook to the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The Line 3 route is approximately 337 miles long in Minnesota. The project also includes upgrades to existing pump stations at Clearbrook, Donaldson, Plummer, and Viking, and construction of new pump stations at Backus, Cromwell, Palisade, and Two Inlets.
Each meeting will include an informal open house (1 hour), a formal presentation by state agency staff (30 minutes), and an opportunity for public comments (1.5 hours).
State agency staff members will facilitate the meeting and are available to respond to questions about the permitting process and the project.
NDPC and Enbridge (applicants) staff will also be available to answer questions about the proposed projects during the informal open house.
You may add verbal comments, written comments, or both into the record. A court reporter will be available to take verbal comments, and comment cards will be available for people who wish to provide written comments for the public record.
Area meetings
Some of the area meetings that will run from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted are listed below: The first meeting is Monday, April 25 at Tobies Restaurant and Bakery 404 Fire Monument Road Hinckley, MN 55037
Wednesday, April 27 at the Crookston Inn & Convention Center 2200 University Ave
Crookston, MN 56716.
Thursday, April 28 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena 525 Brooks Ave North Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Monday, May 2 at Bemidji State University 1500 Birchmont Dr. NE #31 Bemidji, MN 56601.
Two meetings will be held in Park Rapids on Tuesday, May 3. The first one from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion 900 East 1st Street Park Rapids, MN 56470. The second meeting on Tuesday, May 3 from 6:00 p;m. to 9:000 p.m. at the Park Rapids Century School 501 Helten Avenue
Park Rapids, MN 56470.
Tuesday, May 10 there will be a meeting at the Rice Lake Community Center 13830 Community Loop Bagley, MN 56621, 3 to 6 p.m.
For more information and a complete list of meetings see the ad on the back page of the Leader-Record this week.