FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - The U.S. presidential permit granted Aug. 20 for Enbridge's controversial Alberta Clipper pipeline has launched environmental protests on both sides of the border, with opponents vowing a legal challenge.
According to a coalition of environmental and Native American groups, the decision goes against U.S. President Barack Obama's promise to cut global warming pollution and America’s addition to oil while investing in clean energy.
The groups - Earthjustice and the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy as well as the Canadian and American offices of the Sierra Club and the Indigenous Environmental Network - have vowed to challenge the decision in court.
In addition, the indigenous network based in Minnesota is looking into the validity of the permit, as it wasn't signed by Hillary Clinton, U.S. secretary of state, as required. Marty Cobenais of the network said it was signed by the deputy assistant director instead, and he wants to check its validity. Cobenais says the coalition, especially the Leech Lake Band, which stands to be the most affected by the pipeline, is in for a David and Goliath fight with a multibillion-dollar industry and the American government.
“This fight isn't even just about the pipeline. We're fighting this fight down here … because we're against the expansion of the (Alberta) tar sands also,” said Cobenais.
The $3.6-billion Alberta Clipper pipeline will carry oil sands product from Hardisty, Alta. It will extend 525 kilometers from the U.S.-Canadian border near Neche, N.D., across northern Minnesota to an Enbridge terminal in Superior, Wis. The project also includes associated pumping and terminal stations. Scheduled to be up and running in 2010, the pipeline will have an initial capacity of 450,000 b/d of heavy bituminous syncrude. A second 51-centimeter parallel pipeline, Southern Lights, will extend 307 kilometers from Superior to an Enbridge terminal in Clearbrook, Minn.
Showing posts with label Southern Lights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southern Lights. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Enbridge Energy environmental assessment available for comment
MADISON, Wis. – Environmental officials in Wisconsin have invited the public to comment on an Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the Enbridge Alberta Clipper petroleum pipeline system project.
Enbridge Energy Co. of Superior has applied to the Wisconsin DNR for waterway and wetland crossing permits and air quality permits for the proposed project. The company will also need a stormwater permit and an endangered resources review for the project.
The proposed project consists of constructing a new 36-inch diameter petroleum pipeline known as the Alberta Clipper, a new 20-inch diameter diluent return pipeline known as the Southern Lights, an associated pump station for the Southern Lights pipeline and five 250,000-barrel breakout tanks. The proposed pipelines would be constructed along a 13-mile route in Douglas County from the Wisconsin-Minnesota border to the Enbridge Superior Terminal in Superior.
It requires 17 water body crossings, including 10 tributaries to the Pokegama River, three un-named waterways, two tributaries to the Little Pokegama River, one crossing of the Pokegama River and one crossing of an unnamed tributary to the Nemadji River.
The proposed pipelines would temporarily impact approximately 75 acres of wetland.
The pump station and breakout tanks at the Superior Terminal would fill approximately 12 acres of wetland and temporarily impact approximately three acres of wetland.
The project as proposed is not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects, according to DNR officials. DNR has made a preliminary determination that an environmental impact statement will not be required.
Enbridge Energy Co. of Superior has applied to the Wisconsin DNR for waterway and wetland crossing permits and air quality permits for the proposed project. The company will also need a stormwater permit and an endangered resources review for the project.
The proposed project consists of constructing a new 36-inch diameter petroleum pipeline known as the Alberta Clipper, a new 20-inch diameter diluent return pipeline known as the Southern Lights, an associated pump station for the Southern Lights pipeline and five 250,000-barrel breakout tanks. The proposed pipelines would be constructed along a 13-mile route in Douglas County from the Wisconsin-Minnesota border to the Enbridge Superior Terminal in Superior.
It requires 17 water body crossings, including 10 tributaries to the Pokegama River, three un-named waterways, two tributaries to the Little Pokegama River, one crossing of the Pokegama River and one crossing of an unnamed tributary to the Nemadji River.
The proposed pipelines would temporarily impact approximately 75 acres of wetland.
The pump station and breakout tanks at the Superior Terminal would fill approximately 12 acres of wetland and temporarily impact approximately three acres of wetland.
The project as proposed is not anticipated to result in significant adverse environmental effects, according to DNR officials. DNR has made a preliminary determination that an environmental impact statement will not be required.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Enbridge projects creation of 2,000 pipeline jobs this summer and next
SUPERIOR, Wis. - Two oil pipeline projects expected to get under way this summer in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota will put about 2,000 construction workers on the job.
Although some regulatory approval is still needed, it is expected to come in time for the summer construction season.
The Enbridge Energy Pipeline projects are dubbed "Alberta Clipper" and "Southern Lights," but Plumbers and Steamfitters Business Agent Jeff Deveau calls them "a ray of sunshine.” Thirty percent of his Duluth-Superior union members are out of work.
"Locally here we've got 115 guys off right now and this job will help some of these guys from losing their homes, get health insurance again," he said.
Deveau says the recession is delaying or cancelling projects that otherwise would put his people to work.
Most of the 2,000 construction jobs will come in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Two of the three main contractors, Precision Pipeline of Eau Claire and Michel's Construction of Brownsville, are based in Wisconsin.
Although some regulatory approval is still needed, it is expected to come in time for the summer construction season.
The Enbridge Energy Pipeline projects are dubbed "Alberta Clipper" and "Southern Lights," but Plumbers and Steamfitters Business Agent Jeff Deveau calls them "a ray of sunshine.” Thirty percent of his Duluth-Superior union members are out of work.
"Locally here we've got 115 guys off right now and this job will help some of these guys from losing their homes, get health insurance again," he said.
Deveau says the recession is delaying or cancelling projects that otherwise would put his people to work.
Most of the 2,000 construction jobs will come in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Two of the three main contractors, Precision Pipeline of Eau Claire and Michel's Construction of Brownsville, are based in Wisconsin.
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