Old 1953 Pipeline Permit Renewed in Michigan by President
Published Date: 4/20/2026
Presidential Document
Summary
Enbridge Energy Company got the green light to keep running and taking care of their existing oil pipeline at the U.S.-Canada border in St. Clair County, Michigan. This new permit replaces the old one from 1953 and covers transporting all kinds of crude oil and petroleum products, but not natural gas. The pipeline must follow all current laws, and this update keeps things smooth and legal without changing costs or timing.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Company must indemnify U.S. for damages
Enbridge must hold harmless and indemnify the United States from any claimed or adjudged liability arising out of operation or maintenance of the Border facilities, including environmental contamination from the release, threatened release, or discharge of hazardous substances or hazardous waste. That legal duty is explicitly placed on the permittee.
Permittee must remove facilities at its expense
If this permit is terminated, revoked, or surrendered, the permittee must, at its own expense, remove the Border facilities within the time the President specifies; if the permittee fails to comply the United States may remove the facilities at the permittee's expense and the permittee has no claim for damages. This obligation is stated explicitly in the permit.
Permit allows cross‑border oil transport
You may be affected if you live or work near St. Clair County, Michigan: the permit lets Enbridge operate and maintain the existing 30‑inch diameter Border pipeline that runs between Port Huron and Marysville, Michigan, to and including the first mainline shut‑off valve or pumping station about 1.5 miles from the international border. The permit authorizes transport between the United States and Canada of crude oil and petroleum products of every description (refined or unrefined) but explicitly excludes natural gas subject to section 3 of the Natural Gas Act.
Facilities subject to inspection and safety rules
The Border facilities and their operation and maintenance are subject to inspection by appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and to all applicable laws and regulations, including pipeline safety laws administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Officers and employees of those agencies shall be granted free and unrestricted access while performing official duties.
Throughput and flow direction may change freely
The permittee may make changes to the average daily throughput capacity of the Border facilities to any volume achievable through the Border facilities, and may change the directional flow of such products, without the need for a substantial‑change amendment to the Presidential permit. That exception is explicitly stated in Article 1.
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The President just gave Bakken Pipeline Company LP the green light to run and take care of their existing pipeline facilities at the U.S.-Canada border in Burke County, North Dakota. This new permit replaces the old one from 1996 and covers moving all kinds of crude oil and petroleum products (but not natural gas). The pipeline must keep following all current laws, and this update keeps things running smoothly without new costs or delays.
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Enbridge Energy got the green light to keep running and taking care of their existing oil pipeline at the U.S.-Canada border in Pembina County, North Dakota. This new permit replaces the old one from 1994 and lets them transport all kinds of crude oil and petroleum products safely and legally. No big changes in costs or timing, just a fresh official thumbs-up to keep things flowing smoothly.