# Bridger Pipeline Project Sparks Economic Hope and Environmental Concerns in Montana Landowners weigh financial relief against potential risks of a new tar sands pipeline. - **Source:** [Grist](https://grist.org/) - **Published:** 2026-10-29 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6d186a54-51a8-4644-a7f1-c60c3d45e61f ## Economic Lifeline for Farmers Jerry Arnold, a farmer near Opheim, Montana, views the proposed Bridger Pipeline as a potential financial savior. After enduring years of drought and low crop yields, he sees the easement payment as essential for his farm's survival. He previously benefited from the Northern Border Pipeline, which helped him maintain profitability during difficult times. ## Project Scope and Route Wyoming-based Bridger Pipeline LLC plans to construct a 650-mile pipeline to transport tar sands oil. The route traverses nine counties in eastern Montana and extends into Wyoming, terminating at a refinery hub in Guernsey. The project recently received a presidential permit from Donald Trump, authorizing it to cross the Canadian border. ## Tar Sands Oil Characteristics The pipeline is designed to move a dense mixture of sand, clay, water, and petroleum. This specific type of crude generates approximately 20 percent more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional crude oil. The project aims to connect with existing Canadian infrastructure to facilitate the transport of these materials toward domestic refinery centers. ## Negotiating Easement Payments Pipeline companies negotiate private, one-time payments with individual landowners for land access. While amounts remain confidential, historical data from the Keystone XL project showed offers ranging from $38,000 to over $150,000. Landowners like Arnold are focused on maximizing the length of the pipe crossing their property to increase their potential compensation. ## Regulatory and Survey Milestones Bridger has already paid approximately 450 landowners along the preferred route for survey access. The company must still navigate environmental reviews by the Bureau of Land Management and secure various state and federal compliance permits. Construction cannot commence until these legal and environmental hurdles are cleared and final easement agreements are signed. ## Local Government Support County commissioners in eastern Montana are largely championing the project due to anticipated tax revenue. Daniels County, which currently lacks pipeline-related tax income, views the project as a critical economic boon. Local officials emphasize that the region struggles with poverty and desperately needs the financial stability that large infrastructure projects provide. ## Employment and Infrastructure Impact Bridger anticipates hiring between 2,000 and 2,500 construction workers, who will reside in temporary housing facilities. Once operational, the company expects to create 50 to 100 full-time maintenance jobs in Montana. These figures represent significant economic activity for rural eastern counties that often feel neglected compared to the state's western population centers. ## Lessons from Keystone XL The cancellation of the Keystone XL project in 2021 left many Montana communities disappointed after they had planned for significant tax revenues. Some counties had even approved school bonds based on expected income. This history has created a mix of cautious optimism and skepticism among local residents regarding the new project's viability. ## Calls for Greater Transparency Some landowners, such as Bob Thielen, express frustration over the lack of information regarding the pipeline's final destination. There is uncertainty about whether the oil will stay in the country or be exported globally. Residents are questioning the direct benefits to the American public beyond the localized revenue for counties and ranchers. ## Global Export Market Potential While the pipeline ends in Wyoming, the crude may be transported further to Cushing, Oklahoma, and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico for global export. Bridger claims the project will add 550,000 barrels per day to the market, potentially providing stability, though they acknowledge it is impossible to predict local fuel price impacts. ## Environmental and Tribal Risks The preferred route passes within two miles of the Fort Peck Reservation boundary. Tribal leaders warn that a potential spill could contaminate critical drinking water sources for thousands of people. Indigenous advocates describe the practice of routing pipelines just outside reservation borders as a familiar tactic to bypass specific legal protections and tribal rights. ## Future Project Outlook Bridger maintains that it avoids reservation land due to tribal opposition, preferring to work with amenable landowners. As the project moves toward the environmental review phase, the tension between economic necessity in rural Montana and environmental safety remains the central conflict. The project's success depends on navigating these complex social and regulatory landscapes. ## Sources covering this story - https://grist.org/energy/in-eastern-montana-bridger-pipeline-comes-with-perils-and-a-potential-payday/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._