Dakota Access Pipeline cleared to operate under stricter rules
WASHINGTON (UI) — United States Army Corps of Engineers has approved a final easement allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating beneath Lake Oahe along the Missouri River following a years-long environmental review process.
The decision concludes a federal review launched after a 2020 court ruling required the Army Corps to prepare a more detailed environmental analysis of the pipeline crossing near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
According to the Army Corps, the agency evaluated five alternatives tied to the pipeline’s Lake Oahe crossing, including rerouting the line, removing the crossing or allowing continued operations with additional safeguards. Officials selected an option allowing the pipeline to remain in service while adding new environmental and safety conditions.
SEE MORE: Dakota Access Pipeline And A Tale Of Two Tribes
The additional requirements include expanded leak detection and monitoring systems, groundwater and surface water testing, emergency response planning and continued coordination with tribal, state and federal agencies. The decision does not authorize any new pipeline construction beyond the existing crossing.
The pipeline, operated by Energy Transfer, has transported crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois since 2017 and remains one of the largest oil pipelines serving the Bakken region.
The Lake Oahe crossing became the focus of major protests nearly a decade ago as tribal groups and environmental organizations raised concerns about water safety and environmental risks tied to the project.
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