U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp issued the following statement after speaking with Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer who notified her of the Army Corps of Engineers’ impending approval of the easement to complete construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.
“Today I spoke with Army Corps leaders who informed me of their intention to approve the easement to allow construction of the Dakota Access pipeline to be completed,” said Heitkamp. “For the North Dakota families, workers and tribes who have felt the impact of the Dakota Access pipeline conflict every day – today’s announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brings this issue one step closer to final resolution – and delivers the certainty and clarity I’ve been demanding. As has remained my focus throughout this process, it’s critical that North Dakotans are able to feel safe in their neighborhoods, in their jobs, and in their daily lives. That’s why I’ve been pressing all sides for months, including President Trump, to provide the law enforcement resources and personnel needed to support our communities whose resources have been stretched thin. And it’s why I support Governor Burgum, Chairman Archambault, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council in their call on protesters to leave the camp north of the Cannonball River to protect both the protesters and law enforcement from the dangerous threat of floods that could happen in floodplain where the camp sits as early as March.
“Throughout continued delays and stalling tactics during the last Administration, I’ve been pushing for the certainty our communities need, and as the Army Corps delivers the finality they deserve today, it’s crucial that all parties double down in their resolve to listening and working together. Protesters have the right to lawfully and peacefully demonstrate – and law enforcement, residents and tribal members deserve to have their safety guaranteed. Going forward, I’ll continue to monitor the federal government’s work to renew guidance addressing required tribal consultation for future infrastructure projects on or near tribal land, and I’ll keep working with the federal delegation and the governor in a bipartisan effort to push for more federal support for law enforcement. When North Dakota taxpayers have spent more than $22 million on law enforcement resources, and first responders have sacrificed weeks and holidays away from their families to protect the safety of all North Dakotans during the protests, it’s critical that the Administration does its part – and I’ll keep fighting to make sure it provides those needed funds.”
For the past several months, Heitkamp and her staff have been meeting regularly with local law enforcement, land owners, workers, and residents about the Dakota Access pipeline protests. She has had continued conversations with the current and past administrations, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Department of Interior to push for a final decision on the easement going under Lake Oahe. She has also been working in a joint effort with the federal delegation and governor to push for federal funds to provide law enforcement with needed resources to support public safety during the ongoing demonstrations. In December, Heitkamp expressed her concerns after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers denied the easement for the Dakota Access pipeline to go under Lake Oahe.
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