North Dakota's Public Service Commission has scheduled a public hearing for a proposed 52-mile Williams County pipeline, which oil producers hope will help them get better prices for their crude.

As planned, the Enbridge pipeline will roughly parallel an existing 8-inch line that begins at the Trenton pump station, southwest of Williston. It runs north, then veers east, stopping near the Beaver Lodge station in eastern Williams County, which is a major oil storage facility.

The commission on Friday scheduled a public hearing for 10 a.m. Aug. 28 in Williston's City Hall to hear public comments about the pipeline's proposed route.

Brian Johnson, manager of Enbridge Pipelines North Dakota LLC, said the new 10-inch line and other improvements will increase the company's pipeline capacity from about 60,000 barrels to 93,000 barrels daily.

The capacity depends on the time of year and whether special substances, called drag-reducing agents, are used to lessen pipeline friction and increase oil flow, Johnson said.

Enbridge's main pipeline crosses North Dakota west to east to carry crude oil to Minnesota refineries. The new 52-mile line will cost about $25 million to build. Enbridge hopes to start construction in October and finish by July 2007.

Western North Dakota oil producers have been clamoring for more pipeline capacity, saying a shortage of it has forced them to accept discounted prices from buyers or find alternative transportation that is more expensive.