In late 2013, the North Dakota Pipeline Company LLC (NDPC) proposed to construct and operate a new 616-mile oil pipeline that would extend from Beaver Lodge Station, south of Tioga, North Dakota through a new terminal at Clearbrook, Minnesota and then on to an Enbridge affiliate’s terminal and tank farm in Superior, Wisconsin. The proposed project, called the Sandpiper Pipeline project (or Sandpiper), included about 303 miles of new pipeline in Minnesota. NDPC proposed to install 24-inch diameter pipeline from the North Dakota border to Clearbrook, and 30-inch diameter pipeline from Clearbrook to the Wisconsin border. The project also included construction of a new oil terminal at Clearbrook and upgrades to the existing Pine River facility. The proposed project would be located in Polk, Red Lake, Clearwater, Hubbard, Wadena, Cass, Crow Wing, Aitkin, and Carlton counties.

NDPC's proposed project required two approvals from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) before it could be constructed - a certificate of need (CN) and a route permit. In late 2014, the Commission bifurcated the CN and route permit proceedings and held the route permit proceedings in abeyance until completion of the CN proceedings.  In August, 2015, the Commission granted a CN for the project.  The Minnesota Court of Appeals subsequently reversed the Commission's grant of a CN and remanded the case back to the Commission to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) before reconsidering issuance of a CN.  The Commission rejoined the CN and route permit proceedings and authorized the Department of Commerce, in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agnecy, to prepare an EIS for the project.  

Following scoping of the EIS, on September 1, 2016, NDPC requested the withdrawal of its CN and route permit applications. On November 11, 2016, the Commission authorized withdrawal of the applications. Accordingly, the project has not been constructed and is not being pursued further by NDPC.