Energy
Apr 30, 2026

Standing Rock fight over Dakota Access Pipeline continues 10 years later

Tribal leaders say legal battles, unanswered questions remain as pipeline operations expand


Ten years after protests began near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation, the Dakota Access Pipeline continues operating and transporting between 500,000 and 750,000 gallons of crude oil per day, with plans to exceed 1 million gallons, according to reporting by ICT. Tribal leaders said the resistance that drew thousands to camps near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, in 2016 has shifted to ongoing legal challenges and advocacy efforts.

Officials with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said they continue to seek information about pipeline conditions and potential leaks, while raising concerns about environmental risks to their water supply. The tribe formally rejected a federal environmental impact statement in January, according to ICT. Leaders said limited resources and a lack of communication from federal agencies and pipeline operators have complicated their efforts to monitor and challenge the project.

  1. 1.Amelia Schafer and Kevin Abourezk. ICT, .
April 30, 2026

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