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Whether during construction or operation of this line, the safety of the public, the environment and our employees and contractors will remain the foremost priority in everything we do. This pipeline, just like every other project CHS completes, will be built and operated in accordance with federal safety regulation and specifications. Once in operation, CHS will continue to analyze and inspect the pipelines regularly. The routing of the underground line is visually inspected each week and the underground line is internally inspected every five years. Prior to placing the pipeline in service, the pipeline will be strength and pressure tested. The pipeline operation is continually monitored for leaks through monitoring of flow rates and pressures and visually monitored for leak indications weekly. If anomalies are detected, pipeline operators will investigate immediately. Relative to the volume of products transported, pipelines are extremely safe when compared to other modes of energy transportation. Pipelines are the safest and most cost effective means to transport these products. For more information about petroleum pipelines, please visit www.pipeline101.org.
CHS believes in being a good steward to the communities we operate in. We are committed to making the world of agriculture safer and providing safety grants to rural communities. We believe in being good stewards of the environment by reducing emissions, recycling and using energy more efficiently. In 2015, CHS and the CHS Foundation invested $15.5 million to develop the next generation of agricultural leaders, improve agricultural safety and enhance rural vitality. Learn more about CHS Stewardship and the cooperative’s commitment to our farmer-owners and local communities here.
CHS is continually working to improve its ability to serve its cooperative owners. With the need for refined fuels products on the rise, the CHS Refinery at Laurel, Mont., has recently increased its production. In order to move this product from the refinery to the farm and other uses, the current 8-inch pipe will be replaced with a 10-inch steel pipe. CHS has also made the important decision to re-route the pipeline between Sidney, Mont., and Minot, N.D. Whereas the current pipeline crosses the Yellowstone River near Sidney, running eastward to Minot, the new route will run north from Sidney until crossing the Missouri River, and then it will run east to Minot, passing north of Williston. This route was chosen in order to minimize the amount of construction taking place in sensitive areas, while also avoiding difficult river crossings and numerous other engineering and land-use challenges. The construction project is scheduled to begin in spring 2018.
The smaller diameter pipe must be replaced with a new, larger one. By choosing to invest in the pipeline, CHS reduces the need to move additional products on local highways or rail.
Relative to the volume of products transported, pipelines are extremely safe when compared to other modes of energy transportation. Pipelines are the safest most cost effective means to transport these products. For more information about petroleum pipelines, please visit www.pipeline101.org.
This pipeline will be constructed and operated in accordance with stringent federal safety regulations, as well as industry standards and best practices. Prior to placing the pipeline in service, the pipeline will be strength and pressure tested. All welds made during construction will be examined using non-destructive testing technology. Once in operation, CHS will continue to monitor and inspect the pipelines regularly. The pipeline route is inspected visually each week by aerial patrol, and internal pipe inspections are conducted at intervals not exceeding five years.
Cenex Pipeline has a formal emergency response plan in place with trained employees and response equipment along the pipeline route. Cenex also belongs to various spill cooperatives to enhance our response capability and works with local responders to safely manage any emergency needs.
The federal government requires pipelines to conduct many types of inspections to ensure the integrity of pipelines. Among these is a requirement to inspect the surface condition of the right-of-way approximately twice a month. We generally exceed this requirement by inspecting our pipeline right-of-way visually every week from the air. We also meet or exceed regulations that require an internal inspection every five years. We employ the latest technology to detect corrosion and to evaluate the integrity of the pipe. If issues are found, we act immediately.
If your property is crossed by the pipeline, you have likely been contacted by a project representative acting on behalf of CHS. The representative asked for your written permission to have access to your property to perform a survey (if needed) and field and environmental studies. All of these studies may not have been performed, but permission was requested to streamline the process for you and CHS. If the studies indicated that the pipeline should be located on your property, you were likely asked to sign an Easement Agreement and were or will be compensated for the placement and use of the pipeline on your property.
CHS is committed to doing everything it takes to make sure that you’re a part of the process, before, during and after construction. You will be offered several opportunities (during planning, survey, construction staking, etc.) to discuss the project with a project representative. In addition, please feel free to contact the individuals listed at the bottom of this page at any time.
We asked for your permission for survey crews and/or scientists and engineers to perform surveys and studies on your property as this helps us ensure the pipeline is built to the highest standards, and complies with all rules and regulations. We intend to enter your land as few times as possible. Once the replacement project is completed, periodic pipeline inspections may be necessary to ensure safety.
Landowners will be compensated prior to the beginning of construction. The amount of compensation will depend upon several factors, including prevailing easement rates and crop values.
As a result of the pipeline construction, Cenex will pay significant property taxes to the counties in which it is located.
Construction will start with careful removal of topsoil. Topsoil will be segregated and stockpiled within the easement on your property and will be the last to be placed on the top of the backfilled trench once the pipeline is replaced. The trench is compacted as it is backfilled to minimize settling. The right-of-way will be prepared and seeded. Seed mixture will depend on the use of the property being crossed (pasture, farmland, etc.). For pasture, CHS will use a seed mixture suggested by local NRCS and approved by the landowner. Final seeding will take place at appropriate seasonal times. Weed control will be conducted as needed into the future. As a farmer-owned company, CHS is very sensitive to land stewardship matters, and so any concerns that you may have will be promptly and properly addressed.
During construction, the trench will be excavated to a sufficient depth to provide a final minimum cover of 42 inches between the top of the pipe and ground level, except where rock excavation is required, where a minimum cover of 36 inches will be maintained. The width of the trench will be a maximum of 30 inches except at bell holes where OSHA sloping requirements will be followed.
The pipeline will be continuously monitored for leaks by computerized computational monitoring system using measured flow rates and pressures. When abnormalities are detected, pipeline controllers quickly respond in our 24/7/365 control center, including shutting down the pipeline if necessary.
This replacement from Sidney to Minot is a one-time event. No additional replacements will be needed in this area, because the new pipeline will be constructed and operated in a manner that gives it indefinite lifespan for many years.
We are experienced with constructing and operating pipelines, and as such, the likelihood is low that there will be settlement or other issues on your property. We will address your concerns and repair areas of settlement and/or slump. In addition, as a landowner along the pipeline route, you will periodically receive information from us as part of our public awareness and damage prevention programs. These communications will contain information on how to contact us. In addition to our offices in Laurel, Mont., we have permanent staff located in both Glendive, Mont., and Minot, North Dakota.
The pipeline is registered with both the Montana and North Dakota State One Call notification systems. State law requires that all excavators call “811” at least 48 hours (two working days) prior to performing excavations. Once landowners make the call, the pipeline will be located and marked by us.
If you have questions about the Cenex Pipeline or the project, please contact us at publicawareness@chsinc.com. For information about petroleum pipelines, from the steel in the ground to the people and technology that ensure reliable energy delivery and safe operation, we invite you to visit www.pipeline101.org.
