Central ND News

On this day in 2017, Doug Burgum, the former Governor of North Dakota, said that reopening Highway 1806 after the Dakota Access Pipeline protests was essential for ensuring a smooth transition and restoring normalcy. Burgum made this statement in a press release on March 15.

"From the outset, our priorities were public safety, protecting the environment and bringing this situation to a peaceful resolution," said Burgum, Former North Dakota Governor. "With the camps and roadway cleared, we can now move toward re-establishing traffic on Highway 1806. Restoring normalcy for the residents of Morton and Sioux counties and all of North Dakota."

According to the press release, contractors had removed 21,480,000 pounds of trash and debris from three land areas managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following the clearing of protest camps. Additional cleanup efforts, including removing debris from ditches and mud from roadways, remained ongoing with support from the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Chron reports that the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a 1,172-mile underground oil pipeline that transports crude oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to a terminal near Patoka, Illinois. The project, valued at $3.8 billion, has been the subject of environmental and legal disputes since its inception. Concerns have been raised about potential impacts on water sources and sacred lands, leading to numerous protests and legal challenges.

As per AP News, since the Dakota Access Pipeline protests began in 2016, more than 700 individuals have been arrested at the protest sites. Law enforcement agencies have cited reasons for these arrests, including trespassing, disorderly conduct, and obstruction of law enforcement. The protests were led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and supported by environmental activists who aimed to halt the pipeline's construction due to concerns over environmental risks and infringement on indigenous lands.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Burgum served as the 33rd Governor of North Dakota from 2016 to 2024 before being appointed U.S. Secretary of the Interior in 2025. With a background in business and technology, he has experience in public policy, venture capital, and infrastructure development.