The pipeline is almost 60 percent complete, the company’s letter said; Energy Transfer has spent $1.6 billion so far on equipment, materials and the workforce.
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Pipeline crews arriving for work Wednesday morning found protesters already at a construction site just north of Interstate 94 about eight miles west of New Salem, or about 35 miles west of Bismarck, Morton County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Donnell Preskey said.
The supporters carried signs with messages including “We stand with Standing Rock” and “In solidarity with Native Tribes”.
The pipeline has been making national headlines due to tribal protests and President Obama even stepped in ordering the work be suspended.
In late July, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed a lawsuit against the US Army Corps of Engineers, alleging that the agency improperly granted building permits for the pipeline. But the Standing Rock Sioux, whose tribal lands are a half-mile south of the proposed route, have said the pipeline could pollute the tribe’s drinking water and desecrate sacred burial and prayer sites.
The 1,172-mile pipeline is being built by Texas company Energy Transfer Partners.
In North Dakota, protesters have vowed to remain until the project is halted.
“People are still coming down here and are committed to stopping the project”, he said.
The Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172-mile, 30-inch pipeline that will transport up to 470,000 barrels of Bakken crude oil from North Dakota to IL daily. Nurses urged the government to permanently block the disputed project that nurses say is a threat to public health, as well as to the tribe’s sacred sites.
The company had not signaled its position on the government’s request.
The Department of the Army will not authorize work on the pipeline on Corps land near or under the lake “until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions” according to a September 9 U.S. Department of Justice news release.
Horseback riders make their way through an encampment near North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux reservation on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016. “Our fight isn’t over until there is permanent protection of our people and resources from the pipeline”.
The president had, in effect, overruled a federal judge who had approved the construction and stopped a lawful project, he says.
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She said Tuesday she is standing in solidarity with people all over the country that are protesting as well.
