Environmental and other impacts would be negligible if Enbridge Energy LP is allowed to ship more crude oil across the US-Canadian border in a pipeline that has the capacity to handle the additional volumes already, the US Department of State said in a draft supplemental environmental impact statement on Feb. 10.
The draft SEIS makes no recommendations concerning the Enbridge Energy Inc. subsidiary’s 2012 application to use the full 800,000 b/d capacity of the pipeline formerly known as the Alberta Clipper to move 800,000 b/d of crude across a 3-mile stretch that now carries about 450,000 b/d of heavy crude across the border.
“The 700-page draft SEIS concludes that there are no significant adverse environmental impacts associated with this project, given that no new construction is needed and Enbridge is already capable of transporting 800,000 b/d of crude oil into the US,” an Enbridge spokesman said on Feb. 13. Comments on the draft EIS will be accepted through Mar. 27, DOS indicated.
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