Permits from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission are effective today, enabling construction to proceed on the MinnCan Project. This new 304-mile crude oil pipeline will begin in Clearbrook, Minn., and extend to Twin Cities refineries.
Construction is scheduled to begin in select areas of the pipeline route this August. Landowners in these areas who will be affected will receive notice from project representatives about construction on their property. Landowners may also call the project's toll-free line at (877) 796-7846 or visit www.MinnCanProject.com for more information.
The contractors selected to build the pipeline are Michels Pipeline Construction and Henkel's & McCoy, Inc. (H&M). Michels Pipeline Construction, which has been a member of the pipeline industry since 1960, is based in Wisconsin and has five Minnesota offices. H&M is a family-owned corporation, founded in 1923, with offices throughout the U.S., including in Lakeville, Minn.
Approximately 85 percent of the landowners along the MinnCan Project route have signed agreements since initial discussions began about one year ago. Now that the permits are effective and construction plans are being finalized, Minnesota Pipe Line Company (MPL) will complete the acquisition of easements needed to build the pipeline. Later this week, MPL will file the necessary petitions to begin the condemnation process for tracts where agreements have not been reached with landowners. These landowners will begin to receive notifications shortly after these filings. These landowners are still able to reach voluntary agreements with MPL without the condemnation process being completed.
"Minnesota Pipe Line Company remains committed and prefers to obtain voluntary agreements with all landowners and would prefer to not pursue eminent domain actions," said Larry Van Horn, vice president of operations for MPL. "We would like to talk with those who have not yet signed agreements in the hopes of reaching a voluntary agreement even after the condemnation papers are filed. We're still willing to work with landowners."
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The MinnCan Project will strengthen Minnesota's energy future by alleviating growing concerns over tight oil supplies in the Midwest while decreasing reliance on oil reserves located in more unstable nations. It is a project of the Minnesota Pipe Line Company, which is owned by Marathon Pipe Line LLC, Flint Hills Resources, and TROF, Inc. The Minnesota Pipe Line Company (MPL) system has helped meet Minnesota's fuel demands for more than 50 years by transporting Canadian crude oil to Minnesota refineries.
While U.S. consumers and businesses today are increasingly concerned about having their energy needs met by nations in the Middle East and South America, additional crude oil is being produced from proven oil reserves in Canada. The MPL system is at capacity and cannot transport this additional crude oil volume to Minnesota refineries. The MinnCan Project will expand the MPL system to deliver this volume to refineries in the Twin Cities.
For more information, visit www.MinnCanProject.com .
