Central ND News

WASHINGTON - The North Dakota delegation, including Congressman Kelly Armstrong and U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, has sent a letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, urging the uninterrupted operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The delegation emphasized the importance of concluding the ongoing environmental impact study and allowing the pipeline to continue operating without interruption.

The Dakota Access Pipeline has been operating safely for over six years, undergoing multiple examinations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The latest examination is a supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 0.21-mile easement that crosses under the Oahe Reservoir. Despite previous assessments that found no significant impact, the pipeline is now facing further scrutiny.

In their letter, the North Dakota delegation expressed their concerns about the additional scrutiny faced by DAPL. They believe that the scrutiny is driven by opposition to the type of fuel the pipeline carries rather than genuine environmental concerns. The delegation highlighted the extensive record of the pipeline, which has been moving over half a million barrels of oil per day safely and cleanly.

The closure of the pipeline would have significant economic consequences for North Dakota. The state could lose approximately $1.2 billion in the first year and $116 million each subsequent year. The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara (MHA) Nation, which relies on DAPL for transportation of 60% of its oil production, would suffer a loss of over $160 million in one year. The closure would also result in the loss of up to 750 full-time jobs in the near-term and 3,000 jobs in the long-term in the Bakken region.

The North Dakota delegation emphasized that both the state of North Dakota and the MHA Nation have been cooperating agencies in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' environmental review. Their input must be taken into account in any final decision regarding the pipeline.

The delegation also raised concerns about one of the alternatives being considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which involves unearthing the existing pipeline and rerouting it. They argued that this alternative falls outside the jurisdiction of the federal government, as the determination of pipeline routes is the responsibility of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

The delegation concluded their letter by urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to maintain the uninterrupted operation of the existing route of the Dakota Access Pipeline. They requested the Corps to grant the requested easement under Alternative 3 in a final Environmental Impact Statement and issue a timely Record of Decision.

The North Dakota delegation's letter emphasizes the importance of allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating without interruption. They highlight the economic consequences of its closure and argue that the pipeline has a proven track record of safe and clean operation. The delegation calls for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the interests of the state and the MHA Nation in making a final decision on the pipeline.