Notice2026-06320
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bridger Pipeline Expansion Project, Montana
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Published
April 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (MLA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of constructing and operating a 36-inch buried crude oil pipeline and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16217-16219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06320]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516, #O2509-014-004-125222; LLMT: PO#4820002691]
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the
Proposed Bridger Pipeline Expansion Project, Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended (MLA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) intends to prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of
constructing and operating a 36-inch buried crude oil pipeline and by
this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public-scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies by May 1, 2026. To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider comments in the Draft EIS, please ensure your
comments are received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period
or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bridger Pipeline
Expansion project by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov">https://eplanning.blm.gov</a>.
Search NEPA number: DOI-BLM-MT-C020-2026-0054-EIS.
<bullet> Mail: BLM Miles City Field Office, Bridger Pipeline
Expansion Project Comments, 111 Garryowen Rd., Miles City, Montana
59301.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at the
project website noted above and at the BLM Miles City Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillip Blundell, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, telephone 406-896-5119; address 111
Garryowen Rd., Miles City, Montana 59301; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95e5f7f9e0fbf1f0f9f9d5f7f9f8bbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d1d0f011803090801012d0f0100430a021b">[email protected]</span></a>.
Contact Mr. Blundell to have your name added to our mailing list.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting
Mr. Blundell. Individuals outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their country to make international calls
to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 30, 2026, the BLM--Miles City
Field Office received an SF-299 application and Plan of Development
from Bridger Pipeline LLC (Bridger) for the Bridger Pipeline Expansion
project (Project).
The Project would extend from the United States/Canada border in
Phillips County, Montana to an existing crude oil terminal facility
near Guernsey in Platte County, Wyoming. The pipeline proposes to
traverse private and State lands and Federal lands managed by the BLM,
U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
Project will seek a Presidential Permit to authorize construction and
operation of facilities crossing the U.S./Canada border. The Project
would also require the use of temporary and permanent access roads,
main line valves, pump stations, and temporary workspaces.
Under the MLA authority, the BLM will serve as the lead for the
Federal agencies and the environmental analysis will be undertaken by
the BLM and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) who
will be working as Joint Leads. DEQ requires completion of an EIS under
the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) as part of their Major
Facilities Siting Act process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and USFS will be acting as cooperating
agencies on the Project. Additional Federal, State, and local
government entities may join the Project as cooperating agencies, co-
leads, or in some other official capacity in the future.
Bridger is seeking a 30-year renewable right-of-way (ROW) grant for
a 36-inch oil pipeline and associated
[[Page 16218]]
infrastructure (roads, main line values, pump stations). In addition,
3-year temporary use permits would be needed during the construction
phase of this Project for equipment staging, material storage and
workspaces. The Project is proposed to traverse private, State and/or
Federal lands in the following counties: Phillips, Valley, Daniels,
Sheridan, Roosevelt, Richland, Wibaux, Fallon and Carter Counties in
Montana; and Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen, and Platte Counties in
Wyoming.
In Montana, the pipeline would cross 21.5 miles of BLM-administered
lands managed by the Malta and Glasgow Field Offices (combined under
the HiLine Resource Management Plan) and 31.0 miles managed by the
Miles City Field Office. In Wyoming, the pipeline would cross 6.1 miles
of BLM-administered lands managed by the Newcastle Field Office and 5.2
miles of the Thunder Basin National Grassland, administered by the
USFS.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
BLM Purpose and Need
The purpose and need for the BLM is to respond to the SF-299
application submitted by Bridger to construct, operate, maintain, and
terminate the following elements: pipeline, access roads, main line
values, pump stations and temporary workspaces on BLM lands in Montana
and Wyoming.
Applicant Purpose and Need
The purpose of the Project is to transport crude oil from
production areas in Canada to existing infrastructure and downstream
markets in the United States. The proposed Project facilitates
fulfillment demand for crude oil resources from production areas in
Canada to existing infrastructure in Guernsey, Wyoming and other
downstream markets. The Project is needed to address critical energy
supply challenges facing the United States and increase oil supply into
the U.S. for growing refinery production. The Project reflects a
significant and meaningful investment in the U.S. energy economy.
Executive Order (E.O.) 14156 (``Declaring a National Energy
Emergency,'' January 20, 2025) directs Federal agencies to expedite the
identification, siting, production, transportation, and generation of
domestic energy resources, including crude oil, on Federal lands and
elsewhere, to ensure national energy security and economic stability,
specifically Section 3, Expediting the Delivery of Energy
Infrastructure.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The proposed action would consist of constructing a pipeline
covering a total of 646.8 miles; 63.8 of those miles could cross
Federal land. Of the Federal public land, it is anticipated that 58.6
miles would occur on BLM-managed lands (52.5 miles in Montana and 6.1
in Wyoming) and 5.2 miles on USFS-managed lands in Wyoming.
Additionally, Bridger's proposed route would parallel existing Bridger-
owned infrastructure for roughly 138 miles in Montana and 100 miles in
Wyoming.
The Project involves the construction and operation of a 36-inch
diameter steel crude oil transmission pipeline. On Federal lands,
construction would occur within a corridor up to 150 feet wide. On
USFS-managed lands, the Project would utilize a 100-foot-wide permanent
ROW and an additional 50-foot-wide Temporary Use Permit (TUP)
construction corridor. Conversely, on BLM-managed lands, the Project
would utilize a 50-foot-wide permanent ROW and an additional 100-foot-
wide TUP construction corridor. Final permanent ROW and temporary
construction corridor widths on BLM and USFS lands would be determined
in coordination with, and subject to approval by, the respective land-
managing agencies.
On both USFS- and BLM-managed lands, the permanent ROW would
generally be centered within the construction corridor. However,
terrain constraints, resource avoidance measures, or other site-
specific considerations may require the TUP corridor to be shifted
partially or entirely to one side of the permanent ROW.
Bridger plans to install eight pump stations along the pipeline
route between the U.S./Canada border in Phillips County, Montana, and
the existing terminal facility near Guernsey, Wyoming. One pump station
would be located on Federal lands near the U.S./Canada border. In
addition, the Project will include 72 mainline valve sets (MLVs), all
of which would be situated within the permanent ROW. Six MLVs are
proposed on Federal lands (five in Montana and one in Wyoming), and 66
MLVs are proposed on non-Federal lands.
MLVs would be spaced at a maximum interval of approximately 15
miles and positioned on both sides of major water crossings to ensure
operational safety and environmental protection. Pump stations and
valve sets are essential for maintaining optimal pressure and flow
rates throughout the transmission system, ensuring the safe and
efficient movement of crude oil over long distances. The precise
locations of these facilities would be determined based on hydraulic
modeling, operational and regulatory requirements, and environmental
considerations, with final siting subject to regulatory review and
landowner coordination.
The Project would also require temporary staging areas and material
storage sites during construction. The locations and layouts of these
facilities will be refined as Project planning advances and will
consider proximity to construction spreads, access to existing
infrastructure, minimization of environmental and cultural impacts, and
compliance with local, State, Federal, and Tribal regulations. Pump
stations, staging areas, access roads and ancillary facilities would be
sited and designed to avoid or minimize impacts to environmental,
cultural, and tribally identified resources and may be subject to
redesign, relocation, or additional mitigation measures as necessary.
The BLM welcomes comments on the preliminary proposed action as
well as suggestions for additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Field investigations and environmental surveys are underway to
document existing conditions along the Bridger Pipeline Expansion
Project corridor and assess potential impacts associated with the
Proposed Action. Current efforts include evaluations of wildlife
habitat, assessments of federally listed or special-status species, and
aerial surveys of wildlife. Comprehensive field investigations and full
survey efforts are planned to begin in spring and summer 2026.
These studies will inform evaluations of potential effects on
geology, soils, water resources, paleontological resources, vegetation,
wildlife, threatened and endangered species, historic properties,
cultural landscapes, areas of significance identified by Native
American Tribes and communities, recreation, and visual resources. The
analysis will incorporate findings related to geologic formations,
paleontology, cultural and Tribal resources, soil variability and
erosion potential, water crossings including impaired streams and
aquifers, and habitat conditions for sensitive species such as whooping
cranes, northern long-eared bats, pallid sturgeon, and sage-grouse. The
BLM and cooperating agencies will assess these potential impacts for
the Proposed Action and will identify avoidance, minimization, and
mitigation measures not already built into the Project design.
[[Page 16219]]
Potential effects on the built and human environment, including
land use, public health and safety, transportation, and infrastructure,
will also be considered as part of the Federal, State, and local
environmental review processes. The EIS will present the results of
these evaluations, providing a transparent comparison of the
alternatives and their environmental consequences. Public involvement
remains a central component of the review, and input received during
scoping will help refine the range of alternatives, identify additional
issues for analysis, and ensure that relevant information and studies
are incorporated into the EIS.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
<bullet> Right-of-way Grant: BLM;
<bullet> Special Use Permit: USFS;
<bullet> Temporary Use Permit: BLM and USFS;
<bullet> Presidential Permit: U.S. Department of State;
<bullet> Section 404 of Clean Water Act: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers;
<bullet> Section 10 of Rivers and Harbors Act: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers;
<bullet> Endangered Species Act: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
<bullet> Major Facility Siting Act Certificate: Montana Department
of Environmental Quality;
<bullet> Section 401 Permit: Montana Department of Environmental
Quality and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality;
<bullet> Air Quality Permits: Montana Department of Environmental
Quality and Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality;
<bullet> General MPDES Permit: Montana Department of Environmental
Quality;
<bullet> General WYPDES Permit: Wyoming Department of Environmental
Quality;
<bullet> U.S. and State Highway Utility Encroachment Permit:
Montana Department of Transportation and Wyoming Department of
Transportation;
<bullet> Interstate Permitting: Montana Department of
Transportation and Federal Highway Administration;
<bullet> Greater Sage-grouse Approval Letters: Montana Sage-grouse
Oversight Team; and
<bullet> All other State and County required permits (road use,
load, zoning, conditional use, crossing/encroachment, noxious weed
management, etc.)
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM may provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA and DEQ MEPA processes,
including a 30-day comment period on the Draft EIS. If required, the
Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review August 2026
and the Final EIS is anticipated to be released in Spring 2027, with a
Record of Decision to follow.
If approved, any right-of-way grant and temporary use permit
pursuant to section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended
(30 U.S.C. 185) would be issued by BLM for all Federal lands crossed by
the proposed pipeline or associated infrastructure.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period.
The BLM will be holding four public scoping meetings in the
following locations: Glasgow, Montana, Miles City, Montana and
Newcastle, Wyoming. Additionally, the BLM will host one virtual public
scoping meeting. The specific dates and locations of these scoping
meetings will be announced in advance through local newspapers, the
ePlanning project page (see ADDRESSES above), and the BLM website
(<a href="https://www.blm.gov/office/montanadakotas-state-office">https://www.blm.gov/office/montanadakotas-state-office</a>).
Responsible Official
The State Director of the BLM Montana/Dakotas state office will be
the deciding official for the Project. The District Manager for the
Eastern Montana/Dakotas District has been delegated authority from the
State Director with the exception of signing any NEPA decision
documents, including the Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of Availability
(NOA), and Record of Decision (ROD), Cost Recovery Agreement, and
Right-of-Way grant which will remain with the Montana/Dakotas State
Director. Duties may be delegated from the District Manager to the
Field Manager of the Glasgow, Malta, Miles City, and Newcastle Field
Offices, as appropriate.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
BLM's Decision To Be Made
The BLM will decide whether to issue the Right-of-Way Grant and
Temporary Use Permits on Federal land, and if so, under what terms and
conditions.
Additional Information
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), section 2 of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42
U.S.C. 1996); E.O. 13175, ``Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments;'' section 101(d)(6) (54 U.S.C. 302706) ; and the
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (43 CFR part
10.4(b)) including public involvement requirements of section 106 and
other applicable heritage resource requirements within Montana and
Wyoming statutes. The information about historic, Tribal and cultural
resources and threatened and endangered species within the area
potentially affected by the proposed Project will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with E.O. 13175, BLM Manual Section
1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural
resources or areas of Tribal concern, will be given due consideration.
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed Project that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis
as a cooperating agency.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2884.20)
Scott Haight,
Acting State Director BLM Montana/Dakotas.
[FR Doc. 2026-06320 Filed 3-31-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-20-P
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