WALKER-Cass County commissioners approved granting easements to Enbridge to construct its proposed Line 3 pipeline through the county.
The approval, listed in the county board's consent agenda, is contingent upon and effective only if Enbridge obtains all necessary state and federal permits to construct the pipeline. The line would carry oil from Canada to Superior, Wis.
In Cass County, the line would cross through the townships of McKinley, Bull Moose, Pine River, Barclay, Blind Lake, Trelipe, Crooked Lake and Beulah.
For the pipeline route itself, Enbridge would pay the county $60,806.58 for stumpage the first year and $9,399.66 per year for the first five years as easement fee.
For a temporary workspace easement, Enbridge would pay the county $101,220.56 for stumpage the first year and $13,292.29 per year for the life of the agreement.
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For a temporary access road easement, Enbridge would pay the county $18,832.80 for stumpage the first year and $3,717 per year for the life of the agreement.
The two temporary easements would run through pipeline construction and associated cleanup and restoration of the site.
The board also approved contingent permits for Enbridge to cross under two county judicial ditches at four points in McKinley Township and terms under which Enbridge can use County Road 160 and County State Aid Highway 58 for truck traffic during construction.
Enbridge would not be allowed to exceed the county's load limit standards and would be responsible for repairing damage or compensating the county for damage.
Cass commissioners also granted related contingent easements to Great River Energy Company, which provides electrical service to that area and would run electricity to the pipeline for its valves.
Great River would construct a 115-kilovolt transmission line to the project in Sections 11 and 12 of Bull Moose Township.
Great River would pay the county $8,485.29 for stumpage the first year and $1,113.29 annually for five years for an electric utility easement for the power line.
Great River would pay $912 for stumpage the first year and $180 per year for five years for the easement for a temporary access road. The access road easement would end once Enbridge's construction is completed.
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If the county board had not approved granting easements, Enbridge could have filed to take the property by eminent domain process.
