Enbridge Energy and its affiliates (collectively Enbridge) intend to construct and operate a crude oil pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Superior, Wisconsin. Construction in the United States will consist of two components that would have independent utility: the Alberta Clipper Pipeline and the Southern Lights Diluent Pipeline (view project map, 93 kb). The 36-inch Alberta Clipper Pipeline will carry up to 450,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Canada to refineries in the U.S. In the U.S., the Alberta Clipper Pipeline will extend 326 miles from the U.S.-Canadian border near Neche, North Dakota across northern Minnesota to an Enbridge terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. The Southern Lights Diluent Project will consist of a new 20-inch pipeline extending 191 miles from Superior, Wisconsin to an Enbridge terminal in Clearbrook, Minnesota. In the U.S., these pipelines will be constructed at approximately the same time in the same right-of-way, and this right-of way would almost entirely be located along an existing Enbridge pipeline right-of-way.

Because the Alberta Clipper Project requires a crossing of the U.S.-Canadian border, a Presidential Permit is required from the U.S. Department of State for the Project to proceed. As a result, the Project has been environmentally reviewed by the U.S. Department of State in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires public disclosure of potential environmental impacts, identification of potential mitigation measures, and consideration of alternatives to avoid or minimize potential significant impacts.

In accordance with NEPA requirements, public scoping for this Project was initiated in July 2007 with the issuance of a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (dated July 27, 2007) to receive public comments on the proposed Project associated with the environmental analysis. In August 2007, public scoping meetings were held at 12 locations along the pipeline route to receive public comments on the Project. The public scoping period formally concluded on September 10, 2007. The written and verbal comments received during the scoping process were used to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published December 5, 2008. Public comments on the DEIS were accepted until January 30, 2009. In December 2008 and January 2009, public comment meetings were held at 8 locations along the pipeline route to receive public comments on the DEIS. The written and verbal comments received during this process were used to prepare the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS was submitted to the EPA on June 5, 2009. These documents can be found on this website under Project Documents. You may request a CD of the FEIS by completing the on-line form at this link.

On August 20, 2009, the U.S. Department of State issued a Record of Decision and National Interest Determination as well as the Presidential Permit for the Alberta Clipper Project including the crossing of the international border near Neche, North Dakota. These documents can also be found on this website under, "Documents Related to Issuance of the Permit." Enbridge has, or must obtain appropriate approvals from dozens of other Federal, Tribal, state, and local agencies to construct and operate the Alberta Clipper Project.

This website has been created to provide information to the public and to interested parties about the NEPA process and the Alberta Clipper Project.