Enbridge Line 3 / Public Utilities

The Line 3 Replacement Project

Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership’s (Enbridge) Line 3 Replacement Project is a new 330-mile long 36-inch diameter pipeline that will replace 282 miles of its existing 34-inch existing Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota. Associated facilities include eight pumping stations, valves, metering and monitoring equipment, and related electrical facilities.

The route of the pipeline follows the existing Line 3 pipeline within the Enbridge Mainline System corridor from the North Dakota/Minnesota border in Kittson County to the existing Clearbrook Terminal Facility in Clearwater County. From the Clearbrook Terminal, the pipeline diverges from the Enbridge Mainline System corridor and continues south to generally follow an existing pipeline right-of-way to south Hubbard County. Approximately one quarter mile north of the Hubbard/Wadena County border the pipeline route turns east to generally follow portions of existing transmission and transportation rights-of-way and rejoins the Enbridge Mainline System corridor in St. Louis County and continues to the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. The new Line 3 pipeline crosses northern Minnesota.

The existing Line 3 pipeline was originally installed between 1962 and 1969 and is part of the Enbridge Mainline System. While it originally transported a mix of heavy and light crude, the existing Line 3 transports light crudes and its average annual capacity has been restricted to 390,000 barrels per day (bpd) due to safety-related pressure limits.

The new Line 3 pipeline would have an annual average capacity of 760,000 bpd and would transport the same products as the existing Line 3 pipeline. Operationally, the new Line 3 pipeline would continue to transport crude from Canada to the Enbridge terminal facility in Clearbrook for subsequent delivery to Minnesota refineries via interconnected pipeline facilities operated by the Minnesota Pipeline Company, and delivery of crude oil to the Superior Wisconsin terminal for subsequent delivery on the Enbridge Mainline System to refineries in the Midwest, Eastern Canada, and the Gulf Coast.

History
Landowners Choice Program
Trust Fund
Dockets
Complaint Procedures
Contacts

Procedural History

On April 24, 2015, Enbridge filed separate applications for a certificate of need and a route permit for the Line 3 Replacement Project in Minnesota.

Between August 2015 and September 2018, the Line 3 Replacement Project certificate of need and route permit applications were reviewed pursuant to the procedural requirements under Minnesota rules and statutes. These procedures included numerous public information meetings and accompanying comment periods; the preparation and issuance of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS); public and evidentiary hearings; the issuance of findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendation by an administrative law judge; an affirmative determination of FEIS adequacy, the granting of a certificate of need, and the issuance of a pipeline routing permit by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission).

On June 3, 2019, in response to appeals challenging the Commission’s decision finding the FEIS adequate, the Minnesota Court of Appeals found the FEIS inadequate because it did not address the potential impact of an oil spill into the Lake Superior watershed. On October 8, 2019, the Commission issued an order consistent with the decision by the Court of Appeals, determining the FEIS to be inadequate because it did not sufficiently address the potential impact of an oil spill into the Lake Superior watershed. On December 9, 2019, the Second Revised FEIS was issued.

On May 1, 2020, the Commission issued its Order Finding Environmental Impact Statement Adequate, Granting Certificate of Need as Modified, and Granting Routing Permit as Modified.

On June 14, 2021, the Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the Commission’s approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project. On August 24, 2021, the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Line 3 Replacement Project.

The new Line 3 pipeline was put into service in Minnesota on October 3, 2021.
Landowners Choice Program

The Landowner’s Choice Program is a unique program to the Line 3 Replacement Project that was proposed by Enbridge Energy and approved by the Commission. The program gives landowners the ability to decide whether the existing Line 3 pipeline is deactivated and left in place or removed from their property.

As part of the program, resources are available at no cost to the landowner, and include an Independent Program Liaison and an Independent Third-Party Engineer. Independent, no-cost mediation to resolve disputes between landowners and Enbridge regarding operation of the program is also available in the event a dispute relating to your choice cannot be resolved through use of the Independent Program Liaison and the Independent Third-Party Engineer. These resources are paid for by Enbridge.

The Landowner Choice Program is available until July 1, 2025.

For more information contact:

Andrew Levi, Department of Commerce

andrew.levi@state.mn.us

651-539-1840

Website: https://apps.commerce.state.mn.us/eera/web/file-list/14059
Decommissioning Trust Fund

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) required Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership to establish a decommissioning trust fund to cover the costs of decommissioning and removal of the new Line 3 Replacement Pipeline at the end of the pipeline’s operation. The Commission created a separate docket (PL-9/CN-21-823) and is accepting comments on possible actions that should be taken regarding the framework of the trust fund.

Notice of Comment Period

Information on how to submit comments can be found here.
Related Dockets

Decommissioning Trust Fund Docket, PL-9/CN-21-823

In the Matter of the Decommissioning Trust Fund for the Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership Line 3 Replacement Pipeline

Certificate of Need Docket, PL-9/CN-14-916

In the Matter of the Application of Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership for a Certificate of Need for the Proposed Line 3 Replacement Project in Minnesota from the North Dakota Border to the Wisconsin Border

Follow this link to learn more about the Certificate of Need Contested Case Process.

Route Permit Docket, PL-9/PPL-15-137

In the Matter of the Application of Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership, for a Routing Permit for the Proposed Line 3 Replacement Project in Minnesota from the North Dakota Border to the Wisconsin Border

Follow this link to learn more about the Pipeline Route Permitting Process.

More Information about the Line 3 Replacement Project

You can use the docket numbers above in the eDockets system to review documents that were filed related to the Line 3 Replacement Project.
Complaint Procedures

Please send complaints or concerns regarding site preparation, cleanup or restoration or other route and associated facilities permit conditions to Jason Risdall with Enbridge Energy. Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) staff is also available to assist members of the public. In the case where a complaint cannot be satisfactorily resolved, despite the good faith efforts of the permittee and a complainant, Commission staff will address the issues according to the complaint handling procedures outlined in the pipeline routing permit.

Enbridge Energy

Jason Risdall, Regulatory Affairs Supervisor Enbridge, Inc.

26 East Superior Street

Duluth, MN 55802

Jason.risdall@enbridge.com

218-522-4705

The Commission’s Consumer Affairs Office

1-800-657-3782 (voice messages are acceptable)

consumer.puc@state.mn.us (For e-mail reporting, the email subject line should read “PUC EFP Complaint” and include the appropriate project docket number.)
Agency and Project Contacts

Minnesota Public Utilities Commission

Bret Eknes, Public Advisor

Bret.eknes@state.mn.us

651-201-2236

Scott Ek, Permitting & Commission Process

Scott.ek@state.mn.us

651-201-2255

Department of Commerce – Energy Environmental Review and Analysis

Andrew Levi, Environmental Review

andrew.levi@state.mn.us

651-539-1840

Enbridge Energy

Line3ReplacementProject@enbridge.com

855-788-7805