Minnesota Agency Rejects Enbridge Line 3 Reconsideration

OILMONSTER.COM- The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has reaffirmed its decision to permit Enbridge’s Line 3 oil pipeline replacement, Kallanish Energy reports.

At a Tuesday meeting, the state agency unanimously voted to deny petitions to reconsider earlier approvals. The Minnesota Department of Commerce and environmental groups had filed petitions seeking reconsideration, even though those petitions had earlier been denied.

The Department of Commerce has argued Minnesota doesn’t need the pipeline that runs 340 miles through northern Minnesota.

The Minnesota PUC also approved Enbridge’s plan to spend $100 million to recruit and train Native American workers for the pipeline industry. Last June, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission granted the project a certificate of need.

Tribes and eco-groups have filed legal challenges with the Minnesota Court of Appeals where court hearings have already started.

Enbridge has said the old line is corroding and its capacity has been cut in half. Its maintenance also is costly, the company previously said. It was built from 1962 to 1967.

The new $8.2 billion line would be 1,097 miles in length, running through three states and Canada. At present, Line 3 runs from Hardisty, Alberta, to Superior, Wisconsin. The Canadian portion runs from Hardisty to Gretna, Manitoba, and the U.S. portion runs from Neche, North Dakota, to Superior.

It is a key part of Enbridge’s Mainline System for transporting tar sands crude oil to refineries and markets in the U.S. and eastern Canada.

The pipeline, now 34 inches in diameter, will be replaced with a 36-inch line. The new pipeline could be in service by late 2020.

It is designed to carry light, medium and heavy crudes and light synthetics. The initial capacity would be roughly 760,000 barrels per day.

It would replace one of five Enbridge oil lines flowing crude across Minnesota.

 Courtesy: www.kallanishenergy.com