DNR Approves Construction Of Crude Oil Tanks In Superior

The Department of Natural Resource has approved a permit for Enbridge Energy to build three massive oil storage tanks in Superior.

The three five-story high tanks will hold 1.5 million barrels of crude oil shipped from the Alberta tar sands and North Dakota Bakken oil fields. The last hurdle for Enbridge was an air quality permit for the tanks, which has now been approved.

Barring an aappeal, the pipeline company says it will begin construction this month and be finished in two years.

Enbridge is also finishing construction on two other oil storage tanks this summer. They have a total of 40 above-ground tanks.

The DNR received more than 200 written comments and 3,400 emails on the proposal, many against the permit. In a release, the DNR said the comments were off-target, and not specific to the oil storage tanks.

Sierra Club John Muir Chapter Conservation Program director Elizabeth Ward said it is important to look at the big picture of the tar sands and climate change. She said the DNR wasn’t listening to the public and also ignored the dangers of a pipeline spill.

“We know that by increasing pressure in the tar sands pipeline, the likelihood of a rupture is greater,” said Ward. “So that warrants a full environmental impact statement and assessment by the DNR. But instead, the DNR chose to do this piecemeal permitting, really leaving the public out of the process.”

Ward said they’re not sure if they’ll challenge the decision.

The $150 million tanks will create 125 construction jobs and was supported by local unions and Superior government officials.