Army Corps denies easement for Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock Sioux land - Entrepreneur Generations

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Native Americans protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline scored a victory on Sunday when the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers announced it "would not approve an easement to allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under the Lake Oahe section of the Missouri River," Caroline Grueskin reports for The Bismarck Tribune. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe said they feared a spill could leak into the river, which is their main source of water.

"U.S. Army Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy wrote in a memorandum to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the decision 'merits additional analysis, more rigorous exploration and evaluation of reasonable siting alternatives and greater public and tribal participation and comments. Accordingly, the Army will not grant an easement to cross Lake Oahe at the proposed location based on the current record," Grueskin writes.

"Darcy recommended the corps conduct an environmental impact statement with 'broad public input and analysis' before determining any appropriate route," Grueskin writes. "Among the considerations would be more information on the alternative routes, including the one crossing north of Bismarck, details on potential spills and impact on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's water intake and the extent of the tribe's treaty rights in Lake Oahe."

While protesters applauded the decision, Republican Gov. Jacky Dalrymple called it a "serious mistake," Grueskin writes. He said in a statement: "It does nothing to resolve the issue, and worst of all it prolongs the serious problems faced by North Dakota law enforcement as they try to maintain public safety. It’s unfortunate that this project has become a political issue rather than one based on engineering science." (Read more)

from The Rural Blog http://ift.tt/2gZHIja Army Corps denies easement for Dakota Access Pipeline near Standing Rock Sioux land - Entrepreneur Generations

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