North Dakota regulators: Fuel pipeline operator doesn’t need certificate to operate

PSC: ND pipeline operator doesn’t need certificate

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota’s Public Service Commission says a fuel pipeline operator doesn’t need a state certificate to do business.

The NuStar Pipeline company serves the Tesoro refinery near Mandan. It transports gasoline and other refined fuels to Jamestown and Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s rail yard in Mandan, as well as Minnesota cities.

The company applied for the PSC certificate in April 2008, shortly after it changed its name from Kaneb Pipeline to NuStar.

The city of Fargo was allowed to intervene in the case. City officials said they had concerns about whether NuStar’s pipelines would leak and pollute drinking water supplies. They were built in the 1950s when the Mandan refinery was owned by Standard Oil.

NuStar then asked to withdraw its certificate request. The company said there was nothing wrong with its pipelines.

The Public Service Commission voted on Thursday to grant NuStar’s request.

Commission President Kevin Cramer says NuStar doesn’t need the certificate because it isn’t a public utility, and it doesn’t do business with the public.