Keystone XL Pipeline

On December 22, 2008, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality received an application from TransCanada and ConocoPhillips for a Certificate of Compliance under the Major Facility Siting Act to construct and operate a 36-inch crude oil pipeline in eastern Montana. The 285-mile portion of the pipeline in Montana would be part of a longer 1,980-mile project beginning in Hardisty, Alberta, and ending along the Texas Gulf Coast.  

On September 2, 2011, the U.S. Department of State released the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality was a cooperating agency on the Final EIS. The DRAFT EIS and the Final EIS can be found by following the various links below. 

On March 30, 2012 DEQ issued a Certificate of Compliance for the project. The links to the Certificate of Compliance can be viewed further down this page. The Certificate of Compliance authorizes the Montana portion of the Keystone XL Pipeline and associated facilities. The pipeline would enter Montana at the United States-Canada border crossing near the Port of Morgan, Montana and extend southeast, crossing into South Dakota about 35 miles southeast of Baker. In the Montana, the length of the pipeline is approximately 285 miles. The associated facilities include but are not limited to: six pump station, three transmission lines, valves, and associated power supplies, temporary pipe storage areas, off right-of-way access roads, contractor yards, and temporary work areas. 

Additional project information can be viewed at TransCanada Website:
http:www.transcanada.com/keystone/kxl.html

For more information about the project contact Craig Jones, Senior MEPA/MFSA Coordinator, at (406) 444-0514, or by email at: crajones@mt.gov

 

Keystone XL Pipeline

March 2012 Certificate of Compliance in the Matter of the Application of Keystone XL Pipeline
Certificate of Compliance
Attachment 1A: Construction, Mitigation, and Reclamation Plan
Attachment 1B: Environmental Specifications
Attachment 2: Maps
Approved Locations: Selected Location Maps
Interactive Web Mapper
August 2011 Final EIS (US Department of State and Montana DEQ) in the Matter of the Application of Keystone XL Pipeline
Cover Letter
Volume 1-Sections 1.0-3.8
Volume 2-Sections 3.9-4.6
Volume 3-Appendix A
Volume 4-Appendix A (continued)
Volume 5-Appendix B-H
Volume 6-Appendix I
Volume 7-Appendicies J-T
Volume 8-Appendices U-Z
October 4, 2010 Supplemental & Replacement Pages for Application
Introduction and Description of the Proposed Facilities
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
April 2010 Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Draft EIS Text

Volume 1 Appendices
Appendix A: Scoping Summary Report
Appendix B: CMR Plan
Appendix C: SPCC and ERP
Appendix D: Site Specific Water Body Crossing Plans
Appendix E: Waterbody Crossing Table
Appendix F: Oil and Gas Wells
Appendix G: Summary of Soils Crossed by Keystone XL Project
Appendix H: Sand Hills

Volume 2 Appendices
Appendix I: MEPA
Appendix I: MEPA Figures
Appendix I: MEPA Attachment 1
Appendix I: MEPA Attachement 2
Appendix J: Impaired Waterbodies
Appendix K: Conservation Reserve Program Facilites
Appendix L: Pipeline Temperature
Appendix M: Levels 3 and 4 Ecoregions
Appendix N: Project Facilites and Co-locations
Appendix O: Forrested Lands
Appendix P: Risk Assessment
Appendix Q: General Conformity Determination
Appendix R: Canadian Regulatory Review
Appendix S: Programmatic Agreement
Appendix T: Draft Biological Assessment
Appendix U: List of Preparers
Appendix V: Distribution List

Figures
April 2010 Rate Impact Study
Rate Impact Study
December 2009 Final Keystone XL Stream Crossing Report
Keystone XL Pipeline Montana Stream Crossing Inspections Report
August 17, 2009 Keystone Responses to DOE/DEQ for Application
Response Text
April 17, 2009 Supplemental & Replacement Pages for Application
Cross Reference Table
Chapter 1
Chapter 4
Attachment F
Attachment N-Landownership Along Access Roads
Attachment O-Transmission Line
Attachment P-Clarifications
Attachment P-Draft
Visual Photos Route A
Visual Photos Route A1A
Visual Photos Route B
February 11, 2009 Supplemental & Replacement Pages for Application
Cross Reference Table
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Newspaper Notices
Attachment F
Attachment P
Mapbook 5
Mapbook 7-Redacted

Application

Volume 1- Act Application
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction & Description of the Proposed Facilities
Chapter 2: Facility Costs
Chapter 3: Purpose & Explanation of Need (ARM 17.20.928)
Chapter 4: Analysis of Alternatives
Chapter 5: Consultation & Coordination
List of Attachments
Attachment A: Maps & Aerials (to be provided in Vol. 3, 4A, and 4B)
Attachment B: Table of Contents of Emergency Response Plan
Attachment C: Construction, Mitigation, & Reclamation Plan
Attachment D: Pipeline Risk Assessment & Environmental Consequence Analysis
Attachment E: Horizontal Direcational Drill Frac-out Contingincy Plan
Attachment F: Public Consultation Record
Attachment G: Montana Designated Noxious Weeds & Invasive Species Potentially Occurring Along the Proposed & Alternative Routes
Attachment H: Special Status Wildlife Species Potentially Occurring Along the Proposed & Alternative Routes
Attachment I: Raptor Nest Surveys
Attachment J: Waterbody Crossing Tables
Attachment K: Soils Unit Tables for Routes A, A1A, & B
Attachment L: Smectitic Soils
Attachment N: Landownership along Access Roads
Attachment O: Associated Facilites Electric Transmission Lines
Volume 2-Attachment A Maps
Attachment A: Maps & Aerials (to be provided in Vol. 3, 4A, and 4B)
Table of Contents
Mapbook 1: Land Use/Land Cover
Mapbook 2: Farmland Classification, Steep Slopes, & Low Revegetation Potential
Mapbook 3: Hydrologic
Mapbook 4: Geologic Formations & Faults
Mapbook 5: Severe Soil Erosion Potential
Mapbook 6: Soils Requiring Drilling/Blasting or Heavy Ripping
Figure 1: Montana to Gulf Coast-Entire Project Area
Figure 2: Avoidance Areas & Ownership
Figure 3: Big Game, Fisheries, & Avian Distribution & Habitats
Figure 4: Visual Resource Management Areas
Transmission Line Figure 1: Avoidance Areas & Ownership with Transmission Lines
Transmission Line Figure 2: Big Game, Fisheries, & Avian Distribution & Habitats with Transmission Lines
Transmission Line Figure 3: Geological Formations & Faults with Transmission Lines