Enbridge Pipeline

MN Gardener · #1 04/25/08, 08:55 AM

Have any of you had to have an Enbridge pipeline go through your property? It looks like we will have one going through ours and I was hoping someone had some experience with Enbridge. If so, did they do everything that the said they would do? Did they put the topsoil on top, replant grass, not make a mess of any of the other parts of your property? Any other concerns I should have? Anybody have any leaks? Any info would be helpful.

suitcase_sally · #2 04/25/08, 09:17 AM

14 years ago I purchased an 80 acre piece of land that has the pipeline going diagonally thru it and have had no problems with the company. The pipeline was originally put in about 30-40 years ago. Two years ago they came thru with a big machine and cut all the new small trees off the right-of-way which they have to do to keep the pipeline safe. I have had them answer my questions very well when I first bought the property. They have a special airplane that flies low along the pipeline that is for detecting any problems and they also have a "pig" that they send thru it occasionally taking readings.

Dianol · #3 04/25/08, 10:45 AM

DH says this: When they are laying the line, and doing excavations, take pictures before and after. Require them to do what he called "double ditch" which means they use a dozer to push off the topsoil before laying the pipes, and then they will push the topsoil back.

He said it will not be enbridge laying the pipe, but their contractor doing the actual work.
Once the contractor has completed the work, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get them back.
He also suggested that you obtain business cards of the project manager, the contract superintendent, and especially enbridge's "right of way" representative. These names and phone numbers will prove invaluable if you have problems.

DH also mentioned to ask them about hauling you new topsoil after it "settles". Usually, after a few months (up to a year) and a couple of good rain events, the ditch will settle anywhere from several inches to a foot or more, depending on the soil type, and the conditions when the excavations took place.

Those were his thoughts. I'm just the typist. Hope this helps.

di

texican · #4 04/25/08, 11:20 AM

If they already have an easement, you can only hold them to the stipulations present in that agreement. If you're negotiating, hope you made out like a bandit... I had a temp easement 8 years ago that paid 7$/linear foot.

First thing...
You need to be there... not all the time, but pretty much some time, every day, usually first thing in the morning, and in the evening. When it looks like they'll be finishing up soon, be there all the time. Talk with the supervisor and let him know you want things in as good a shape after as they were before. Take pictures before and after, and have the date appear on the digital pics. Can come in real handy for disputes.

There should be zero damage to any area outside of the expressed easement zone. If it's 30' wide, they have to stay on it. I make allowances if they're going through cleaning up. I don't allow them to drive hither and yon, with trucks or equipment. If they're nice to me, I allow them conveniences... if not, I tell them they should travel all the way back to the pavement (state hwy) along their 'easement'! If they want to spend a week crossing creeks, they can... if they want to use my road and get back to the pavement in minutes, they'll kindly listen to my requests.

Second.
Trust, but Verify. Reagan was right about the Commies. He could have also been talking about loggers and oil/gas companies. Most will do right by you...if they know you're watching. Problem is a lot of sub contractors are involved, and to them, time is MONEY!

I never let the last piece of equipment leave the premises, till everything pre agreed upon has been finished.

Last time the pipeline company crossed my place, they didn't stretch the fence quite tight enough... I got half a day of trackhoe work out of em when they came back the next day.... a nice lil stock pond in a dry pasture...

good luck...

Tracy Rimmer · #5 04/25/08, 07:53 PM

The Enbridge pipeline goes diagonally through my neighbor's property and cuts off the corner of the quartersection my home sits on. They'll be digging it up this year to put in an additional pipe.

It doesn't really affect us, but it does affect my neighbors. They've been told to plant as normal (they raise flax) and Enbridge will dig when they need to. They've been compensated for the "inconvenience" and the income loss of what portion of the crop will be destroyed. The neighbors have nothing but good to say about their dealings with the company.

I wouldn't worry too much about how they treat landowners. This pipeline is a HUGE project, and I'm pretty certain that by the time they get from Alberta down to you, they'll have any issues with public relations ironed out.

MN Gardener · #6 04/26/08, 11:49 AM

We went to their meeting a couple weeks ago and it seemed like they would be more the gracious with there compensation for incoveniences, loss of use and making sure they put everything back as it was or better. I just wasn't sure how well they fulfill their promises. They currently have a pipeline going through the Reservation but the Reservation and Enbridge can not come to an agreement on price, etc, so they are going to reroute through our land (they can use imminent domian on us, not on the Reservation, which is a separate nation). Thanks for all the good advice. I will make sure and take pictures and I will be cautiously optimistic about the whole thing. Thanks again!

fantasymaker · #7 04/26/08, 10:23 PM

Here In Il the use of imminent domain is being fought,
they have offered about $40 a foot including ROW temp ROW options and purchase and a quick signing bonus.
The lawyers in this tell us the have paid almost 100 times that in areas they couldnt get imminent domain.
The old pipeline thru here that they claim they just bought was never maintained well and was not used for a lot of years.

Jerry in MN · #8 04/26/08, 11:21 PM

The Enbridge (formerly Lakehead) pipeline goes through my folks' land here in northwestern Minnesota. Back in the 1970's there was a major pipeline rupture a mile away with at least tens of thousands of gallons of smelly crude oil spilled. Most of the spilled oil was pumped into tanker trucks and hauled away, and then some of the oil that remained on top of the ground was burned.
Up here there will be two new, different-sized pipes put in over the next year or two. The bigger pipe will bring down thick Canadian crude mixed with some other liquid to help it flow better; and the smaller pipe will return that other liquid back up to be recirculated.

fishhead · #9 04/27/08, 07:23 AM

You might also want to have them spell out how they will control access to the easement. Pipelines and powerlines are magnets to every trespassing knucklehead with wheels or tracks.

paintlady · #10 04/27/08, 07:52 AM

Enbridge had a pipeline explosion in Clearbrook MN on November 28th of last year. You can google it for more information.

fishtrap3 · #11 04/27/08, 07:31 PM

Do as dianol says and take pics and lots of them from differant angles of the area.... Make sure when they backfill the pipe that they use tampers to compact the ground. And not just on the top when they are done backfilling, this should be done at differant levels as they are backfilling... To get more compaction.. The ground will settle after they leave, so you might want to ask about what will be done about this after they are gone..

Good Luck