Proposed Oil Pipeline Hits Setback in Montana

A proposed oil pipeline across eastern Montana has hit a setback after the Montana Department of Environmental Quality revoked waivers that would have allowed the project to move through the early permitting process with less information.

The decision follows a legal challenge by two Montana residents, backed by environmental law firm Earthjustice. DEQ now says Bridger Pipeline must submit information on alternative routes, project costs and other required details before its application can be considered complete.

The agency also identified discrepancies between the company's state application and documents submitted to the Bureau of Land Management.

The proposed project would include about 435 miles of pipeline in Montana, crossing nine counties, including Valley County, as part of a 645-mile system carrying Canadian crude oil to Wyoming and eventually to refineries in Oklahoma. Planning documents estimate the Montana portion alone would cost about $1.96 billion to build. Supporters say the project would create construction jobs, generate new property tax revenue for local governments and strengthen North American energy infrastructure. Opponents argue it would increase the risk of oil spills, impact private landowners and wildlife habitat, and expand the transport of carbon-intensive Canadian tar sands crude.

Bridger Pipeline says it always intended to provide the required information and remains committed to complying with all state and federal regulations. The additional review could delay the project's timeline, with construction previously targeted to begin in 2027 and the pipeline entering service in early 2029.