The Vantage Pipeline, a 430-mile pipeline across the Bakken Oil Region, transports ethane from North Dakota to Alberta, Canada. A Presidential Permit, managed through the U.S. Department of State, required Section 106 consultation and led to extensive engagement with twelve Northern Plains Indian tribes.
Scope
We spearheaded the creation of an American Indian Working Group to develop a collaborative approach to the survey of cultural and religious sites. We facilitated the survey with the help of 20 tribal representatives from multiple tribes. The GPS data, processed daily, helped facilitate avoidance planning to reduce impacts to sensitive sites and minimized project delays.
Outcome
After three years of Department of State consultation that had reached an impass, we were able to facilitate a successful conclusion to the cultural sites survey, in compliance with the Programmatic Agreement, within three months of the first Working Group meeting.
“Thanks to 106 for helping us to pull off what I thought was impossible.” –Project Manager
“…all in all we go back to that agreement as something of a model.” –THPO Representative
