Army Corps approves Dakota Access Pipeline easement at Lake Oahe
Federal officials approved the Dakota Access Pipeline’s Missouri River crossing nearly a decade after protests near Standing Rock drew international attention
Federal officials approved a key easement Thursday allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating beneath Lake Oahe, according to reporting by the Associated Press. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the pipeline will remain in operation with additional conditions related to leak detection, groundwater monitoring and emergency response planning. The pipeline has transported oil from North Dakota’s Bakken oil field to Illinois since 2017 and carries about 540,000 barrels of oil per day, according to the AP article.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said it will continue legal efforts to oppose the pipeline, citing concerns about water protection, sacred sites and treaty rights. The Corps said the decision followed environmental review, public input and tribal consultation.
- 1.Jack Dura. Associated Press, .
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