The impact of the 1235-kilometre (768-mile) Keystone pipeline, the Southern Lights Pipeline project and the Alberta Clipper Pipeline development on lands claimed by the natives is negligible and the groups had been correctly consulted, Barnes wrote in his 31-page decision.
ConocoPhillips and TransCanada are investing $5.2 billion on Keystone to transport 590,000 barrels of oil a day to US Midwest refineries.
A $7 billion addition would allow Alberta oilsands production to be processed by Gulf Coast refiners who represent almost half of the US’s refining capacity.
Enbridge’s Alberta Clipper project is a new 1078-kilometre pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, to Gretna, Manitoba, on the Canadian-US border, Barnes said.
The judge said the Southern Lights project uses the same corridor as the Alberta Clipper project.
