Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Trump approved the Bridger pipeline expansion to transport up to 550,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to the US, but the 650-mile project still depends on environmental permits and faces opposition due to spill risks.
On Thursday, Trump granted crucial approval for the Bridger pipeline expansion, a project that would transport oil from Canada to the United States for export and refining. The 650-mile structure would have the capacity to transport up to 550,000 barrels per day, but still depends on new environmental authorizations before construction.
Bridger Pipeline Receives Approval for Expansion
The expansion foresees a 91-centimeter wide pipeline, starting from the Canadian border with Montana and continuing through eastern Montana and Wyoming. The route would connect to another pipeline, expanding the network used to move oil between the two regions.
Even with presidential approval, the project still needs to go through environmental stages at state and federal levels. Company representatives expect to start work next year, while environmental groups are trying to block the project due to the risk of ruptures and spills.
-
Satellite images show how the fastest-growing city in SC changed over the years, and Itapoá’s transformation impresses those who compare the before and after.
-
Unclaimed PIS/Pasep funds have a new batch released by Caixa, and workers can withdraw an average balance of R$ 2,800.
-
Mercosur-EU Agreement opens the door for Brazilian coffee and fruits, but lower tariffs do not eliminate environmental, sanitary, and logistical requirements.
-
Supermercados BH advances on EPA and Mineirão units and could reach about 600 stores after an agreement with DMA
At its maximum volume, the pipeline would transport two-thirds of the oil quantity planned for the Keystone XL. This project became more well-known, had part of its construction completed, and ended with its permit canceled by Joe Biden in 2021, on the day he assumed the Presidency.
Trump compared the decision to the previous administration’s stance and stated that his administration has pipelines under construction. In his first term, he had already approved the Keystone XL in 2020, despite concerns from Native American tribes and environmental groups.
Comparison with Keystone XL
The Keystone XL was criticized for its spill risk and the role of fossil fuels in climate change. Biden’s cancellation of the permit frustrated Canadian authorities, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after Alberta invested over US$1 billion in the project.
The Bridger expansion, sometimes called “Keystone Light,” has differences compared to the canceled project. Bridger Pipeline LLC reported that the route would not cross indigenous reservations, that over 70% of the work would be within existing pipeline corridors, and that 80% would pass through private land.
The responsible company, headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, operates over 5,950 kilometers of oil gathering and transmission pipelines. Its operations are in the Williston Basin, in North Dakota and Montana, and the Powder River Basin, in Wyoming.
Bridger Pipeline is a subsidiary of True Companies and could avoid a future reversal if it completes the expansion before the end of Trump’s term. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2027, with completion anticipated by late 2028 or early 2029.
History of Spills Worries Environmentalists
Trump’s term ends on January 20, 2029, a date that makes the timeline relevant for the pipeline’s progress. Spokesperson Bill Salvin stated that the company intends to complete the project within this period, provided the necessary approvals are obtained.
True Company subsidiaries have been involved in serious pipeline accidents. In 2015, over 240,000 liters of crude oil leaked into the Yellowstone River, contaminating a town’s drinking water supply in Montana.
In 2022, 45,000 gallons of diesel leaked in Wyoming. In 2016, another accident released over 2.7 million liters of crude oil in North Dakota, affecting the Little Missouri River and a tributary.
True subsidiaries agreed to pay a civil penalty of US$12.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the government regarding spills in North Dakota and Montana. These precedents strengthen the opposition from organizations such as the Montana Environmental Information Center and WildEarth Guardians.
Company Promises AI-Powered Detection
Salvin stated that the company developed an AI-powered leak detection system to be notified more quickly when problems occur. The company also plans to drill between 9 and 12 meters below major rivers, including the Yellowstone and Missouri, to reduce risks.
The 2015 accident occurred in a pipeline installed in a shallow trench at the bottom of the river. Salvin stated that the new pipeline was designed with a focus on integrity and safety, and includes emergency response plans in case of a leak.
Attorney Jenny Harbine, from Earthjustice, stated that the main concern lies in the inherent risk of pipeline projects. For opposing groups, the possibility of ruptures and leaks remains a central point of contention surrounding the pipeline.
Be the first to react!