A draft environmental assessment for a proposal to perform maintenance activities to prevent scour on two existing Tesoro High Plains Pipeline Company, LLC crude oil pipelines located along the Little Missouri River, on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-administered land near Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota, is currently available for public review.
The draft EA analyzes environmental impacts of completing maintenance and stabilization activities to prevent damage to two existing crude oil pipelines, the Ramberg to Mandan and Berthold Pipelines, due to erosion from wave, wind and ice action of the Little Missouri River in Dunn County, N.D. The Ramberg-Mandan pipeline extends from Ramberg Station (south of Tioga) to the refinery in Mandan, N.D. and the Berthold pipeline extends from the Johnson’s Corner area (east of Watford City) to Dunn Center Station (east of Dunn Center, N.D.).
The proposed project would utilize a combination of riprap and grout bags to provide the required depth of cover (48 inches) and stabilization to approximately 125 linear feet of existing Ramberg to Mandan pipeline. The Berthold Pipeline portion of the proposed project would involve partial removal of 320 linear feet of pipeline on the south and north shores of the Little Missouri River, cleaning and capping the remaining pipeline, which will be left in place. There is approximately 160 linear feet of pipeline on the north shore and 160 linear feet of pipeline on the south shore that would undergo this process.
The draft EA is available at: www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Planning/Project-Reports/.
Comments can be mailed to: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-PMA-C; ATTN: John Shelman; 1616 Capitol Avenue; Omaha, NE 68102-4901. Comments can also be emailed to: cenwo-planning@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than July 7, 2021 to receive adequate consideration in the EA.
This draft EA is consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1500-1508), the Corps’ regulations for implementing NEPA (33 CFR 325 and Engineering Regulation 200-2-2) and other applicable environmental laws and regulations. The analysis was completed by a third party, which is allowed in accordance with CFR 1506.5(b). The Corps has independently evaluated and verified the information and analysis undertaken in this EA and takes full responsibility for its scope and content.
Release no. 21-040