Officials hopeful project will start in MN by end of 2020
By Anna Jauhola
HAMILTON, N.D. — Work on the replacement of Line 3 of the crude oil Enbridge pipeline in Minnesota could start as soon as December, according to officials who spoke at an event in Pembina County, N.D., last week.
Enbridge and its contractor partner, Michels, held a celebration event at the Pembina County Fairgrounds in Hamilton, N.D. The 12-mile section of the Line 3 pipe is complete in North Dakota, with the exception of some land restoration. Barry Simonson, director of the Line 3 replacement project in the U.S., said the project went extremely well.
“In terms of the remaining portion of Line 3 in Minnesota, we are poised, once we get all the final permits, to start constructing Line 3 in Minnesota. We’re looking forward to that,” Simonson said. “It’s been a very long process and a very thorough process.
The pipeline has been a source of contention throughout Minnesota over the last few years. It has been heavily objected by many, especially environmental groups.The line route will span 337 miles across Minnesota, starting at the southwest corner of Kittson County. The pipeline replacement sections in Wisconsin, and now North Dakota, are complete.
They remain capped at the Minnesota borders as politicians and private and public officials work toward approving the final permits needed to complete the replacement.
Simonson said Enbridge is still handling the regulatory and environmental permitting process.
“We received the (Public Utilities Commission) permits, they reaffirmed those, in terms of the route permit, the certificate of need and adequacy of the (Environmental Impact Statement),” he said. “This is being appealed by opposition right now. We’re working with the Minnesota DNR, Pollution Control Agency, to finalize their permits.”
He added Enbridge is confident the project’s momentum in North Dakota will move forward the permitting process for Minnesota.
He thanked the residents and businesses in the area for their generous hospitality.
He said he hopes the communities know how important safety, integrity and respect are to Enbridge. Several officials who spoke thanked the surrounding communities for welcoming pipeline personnel, including Hamilton, Cavalier, Walhalla, Drayton, Grafton and Hallock. Several pipeline workers found their homes at campgrounds and hotels over the last few months.
The project alone was a $69 million investment in North Dakota and brought as many as 400 workers into the area.
“Everyone has been great. We’ve heard nothing but positives from workers about how welcoming everyone has been,” said Dave Hodek, spread manager for the North Dakota segment. “So thank you, we definitely appreciate it.”
Enbridge and Michels began construction on the North Dakota segment of pipe in August and officials said it has been the easiest working conditions due to dry weather.
“We’re working in one of the richest agricultural areas in the world here in the Red River Valley,” said Dave Hodek, spread manager for the segment. “It was very important to us to return that land back to the same productivity it had before we came in and installed the pipeline. That’s something we take very seriously. You’ll continue to see us working on that restoration in the next couple of weeks.”
Bob Osborn, senior vice president from Michels, acknowledged the tough situation of local traffic coexisting with pipeline construction traffic, especially during harvest. He also thanked the surrounding communities for their hospitality and patience while construction was in full force.
“With a project like this, there are many new people in the area. We hope that while we are here, we helped out the local communities also by stimulating the local economy,” Osborn said.
Sen. Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, attended the event and said afterward he’s excited by the momentum and hopes it will move into Minnesota as planned at the end of 2020.
“I’ve only heard a couple of concerns (from constituents) about the pipeline, which were well addressed,” he said. “I see a lot of support in our district for the pipeline.”
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October 30, 2020 at 04:27AM
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Line 3 replacement complete in ND – The Kittson County Enterprise - Kittson County Enterprise
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