Why It Matters
President Donald Trump signed approval Thursday for a major new cross-border oil pipeline that would carry Canadian crude through Montana and Wyoming. The 650-mile Bridger Pipeline Expansion would transport up to 550,000 barrels daily, boosting domestic energy supply and creating construction jobs across the Mountain West. The project still requires state and federal environmental permits before construction can begin.
The pipeline could be operational by late 2028 or early 2029 if construction proceeds on schedule, marking a sharp reversal from the previous administration’s approach to cross-border energy infrastructure.
What Happened
Trump granted the presidential permit needed for the three-foot-wide pipeline to cross from Saskatchewan into northeastern Montana. From there, the line would run through Wyoming and connect with existing pipeline infrastructure for export or domestic refining.
The president contrasted his approval with the Biden administration’s actions. In 2021, President Joe Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office, citing climate concerns. That decision came after Alberta had invested more than $1 billion in the project.
Bridger Pipeline LLC plans to begin construction in fall 2027, with completion targeted for late 2028 or early 2029. The company said more than 70 percent of the route would use existing pipeline corridors and 80 percent would cross private land. Unlike Keystone XL, the Bridger expansion would not cross any Native American reservations.
By The Numbers
• 550,000 barrels per day capacity at peak volume
• 650 miles of pipeline spanning two states
• Two-thirds the capacity of the canceled Keystone XL project
• More than 3,700 miles of existing pipeline operated by Bridger in the region
• Construction timeline: fall 2027 to late 2028 or early 2029
The Safety Record
Bridger Pipeline and related subsidiaries have been involved in several major accidents. In 2015, more than 50,000 gallons of crude spilled into the Yellowstone River, contaminating a Montana city’s water supply. A 2022 diesel spill in Wyoming released 45,000 gallons. The worst incident occurred in 2016 when more than 600,000 gallons of crude spilled in North Dakota, reaching the Little Missouri River and a tributary.
Company subsidiaries paid a $12.5 million civil penalty to settle federal claims over the North Dakota and Montana spills. Company spokesperson Bill Salvin said Bridger has since developed an AI-based leak detection system and plans to bore 30 to 40 feet beneath major rivers to reduce accident risk. The 2015 Yellowstone incident involved a line built in a shallow river-bottom trench.
Zoom Out
The approval represents a broader shift in federal energy policy favoring domestic production and cross-border infrastructure. Trump approved the original Keystone XL project during his first term in 2020, but Biden’s cancellation left Canadian officials frustrated after significant investment.
Environmental groups oppose the new pipeline over spill risks and climate concerns related to fossil fuel development. The project requires additional permits from state and federal environmental agencies before construction can proceed.
What’s Next
Bridger Pipeline must obtain state and federal environmental approvals before breaking ground. Regulators are seeking public input on the project. If the company meets its timeline, the pipeline could be completed before Trump’s current term ends on January 20, 2029, potentially insulating it from reversal by a future administration.
The permit also authorizes transport of gasoline, kerosene, diesel and liquified petroleum gas, though the company said its current focus remains crude oil from Canada’s oil sands region.
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