Enbridge receives permit for expansion at Superior terminal

A Superior terminal owned by Enbridge, Inc., received approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources today on an air construction permit that would allow the terminal to expand the storage capacity of its oil tanks.

The decision comes after the DNR received more than 200 written comments and roughly 3,400 emails from the public, many voicing concerns over Enbridge’s pipeline, which was not part of the department’s permit review process.

The department conducted assessments for the Enbridge Southern Access 61 project in 2006, as well as the Alberta Clipper pipeline project in 2009.

The permit isn’t required to undergo any further analysis.

Enbridge Energy brings 2.31 million barrels (more than 97 million gallons) into its Superior terminal each day - and pumps 1.87 million barrels out of Superior.

The difference, 438,600 barrels (18.4 million gallons) per day, goes to the Calumet or Plains Midstream facilities in Superior, or is stored in Enbridge tanks.