Who will build and operate the facilities?
Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company will build and operate the facilities proposed for the Sheyenne Expansion Project. Williston Basin provides natural gas gathering, transportation and underground storage through an interstate pipeline system in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The company has been in the natural gas pipeline business since the mid-1920s and is part of the MDU Resources Group, Inc. family of energy companies. MDU Resources is a multidimensional natural resource enterprise traded on the New York Stock Exchange as “MDU.”
What steps are involved in building the facilities?
Preceding the construction and reclamation phase is the submission of a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the receipt of authority and permission to build the facilities. A requirement of this FERC filing is the completion of an Environmental Assessment for the entire project. After finalizing the locations for the various facilities, landowners are contacted to obtain easements for the construction and access to right-of-way. Once right-of-way is secured and FERC approval has been granted, the actual construction phase begins. The last phase is the clean-up and reclamation/restoration of the right-of-way.
How long will it take to build the facilities?
Once final approval is received from the FERC, the company estimates that construction will take about three months. The company anticipates FERC approval by June 2008 with construction beginning in June or July 2008. If this schedule is maintained, the company would expect an in-service date of all the facilities by November 2008.
What exactly is a compressor station?
By itself, natural gas would just sit within the pipeline unless some force causes it to move. A compressor station must be located at specific distances along a natural gas pipeline in order to provide the force to move the natural gas through the pipeline. A compressor station is simply a pump that supplies the force to move the gas through the pipeline.
How will the counties benefit from the installation of these facilities?
Counties in which the facilities will be either constructed or modified include Burleigh, Kidder, Stutsman and Cass. Total project cost is estimated to be $7.5 million with the majority of the investment occurring in Kidder County with the construction of a new compressor station. We estimate the new permanent property in Kidder County will bring in over $34,000 in annual property tax revenue to the county. For the three-month construction phase in Steele, approximately 10 to 12 workers will be required for the project. New permanent property in Burleigh County will bring in over $28,000 in annual property tax revenue. The construction phase in that county will also involve 10 to 12 workers. In Cass County, new annual property tax revenue will be approximately $7,500. The work in that county will involve approximately 12 workers.
How will the environment be protected during the construction of the facilities?
Environmental protection is an integral part of the company’s operational philosophy. Additionally, it is part of the FERC approval process. The Sheyenne Expansion Project is undergoing a complete Environment Assessment. This process identifies all of the potential environmental impacts of this project plus suggests alternatives in order to mitigate any of the identified impacts.
Once the construction is completed, how are the facilities monitored to ensure public safety?
When the facilities are placed in service, they become part of Williston Basin’s integrated pipeline system under the control of the Gas Control Center located in Bismarck. This center is responsible for monitoring flow and operating conditions on the entire pipeline system and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If abnormalities occur anywhere on the system, the Gas Control Center is quickly made aware of the problem and can take appropriate measures to ensure public safety and repair of the facilities.
Where does a landowner go if problems are encountered with the pipeline sponsor?
View our company contacts.
