Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven announced that U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled in favor of North Dakota regarding its lawsuit against the federal government for damages incurred during the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. The ruling awarded the state nearly $28 million to offset emergency response expenses attributed to federal negligence during the demonstrations. This award is added to the $10 million previously secured by Hoeven in 2017 as part of his role in the Senate Appropriations Committee to assist the state with related costs.

Hoeven commented on the decision, stating, "The federal government, through its negligence, allowed lawlessness to take hold on Army Corps land, resulting in months of disruption to local residents’ lives, threats to their safety and significant costs to the state." He added, "We commend Attorney General Drew Wrigley and his team for securing today’s verdict, which recognizes the harm resulting from the Obama administration’s refusal to enforce the law and police illegal activity during the DAPL protests. This nearly $28 million award is about accountability for federal officials and, when combined with the $10 million we previously secured, making the State of North Dakota whole again."