Dakota Access, the subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners LP that is building the pipeline, declined to comment. Evidence indicates that approval sidestepped appropriate consultation with affected Tribes, as well as historical preservation requirements and environmental assessments.
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Construction will be paused until the Army Corps can “determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act or other federal laws”.
The statement from the federal departments also said the case “highlighted the need for a serious discussion” about nationwide reforms “with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects”.
The tribe said burial grounds and other sacred sites would be destroyed by the pipeline.
“The Standing Rock Sioux are the original inhabitants of what is now North Dakota, and we applaud this administration for recognizing their inalienable right to self-determination of their tribal homelands”. Judge James Boasberg said in his ruling to continue construction that the tribe had not provided enough evidence to support their argument that building the pipeline would harm their livelihoods. Water Protectors – a term coined by Native demonstrators in North Dakota – are concerned that the pipeline will rupture and contaminate water sources for millions of people.
A banner protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline is displayed at an encampment near North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux reservation on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016.
“The reality is (Dakota Access) likely will move forward – not that I believe it should move forward – but all the pieces are in place for it to go forward”, Jorde said.
“Those decision makers in those departments are what’s needed in this country so that we start to realize what the wrongs are and how do we work at making them right”, Archambault said.
“Our message is heard, and it’s going to go a long way”, Archambault said.
State authorities announced this week that law enforcement officers from across the state were being mobilized at the protest site.
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple activated the North Dakota National Guard Thursday in anticipation of the ruling.
“In a related development, the North Dakota Private Investigation and Security Board, which regulates private investigation and security firms, is looking in complaints on the use of force against protesters last weekend in which 4 private security guards and 2 guard dogs were reportedly injured while 6 protesters said they were bitten by dogs and about 30 said they were pepper-sprayed”.
The company plans to complete the pipeline this year, and said in court papers that stopping the project would cost $1.4 billion the first year, mostly due to lost revenue in hauling crude.
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“This project is critical to our nation’s energy future and is in the best interest of the state and nation”, said Ness, calling the decision “yet another flagrant overreach by federal government”.
