Enbridge’s push to carry an additional 390,000 barrels of oil per day 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 Friday.
The U.S. 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 barrels of heavy crude oil per day but was initially permitted to carry just 500,000 barrels per day over a three-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 1,000-mile pipeline first came online in 2010.
Environmental and tribal advocates have attempted to stop the expansion to prevent further use of tar sands oil and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A decision on the pipeline’s presidential permit could come this year.
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The environmental review can be found at state.gov/e/enr/applicant/applicants/environmentalreview or at the Duluth, Superior and Cloquet public libraries.
