The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still says the Dakota Access oil pipeline, the one that drew thousands of protesting Native Americans and environmentalists in North Dakota poses no significant environmental threats.
The claim came after the Corps announced completion of another year of more studies into the environmental impact of the $3.8 billion, four-state pipeline built by Energy Transfer Partners based in Dallas, Texas.
The extra studies were ordered by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in June of last year even though at the time he determined the Corps had “largely complied” with environmental law. He wants more studies claiming the Corps had not adequately considered how an oil spill under the Missouri River might affect the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s fishing and hunting rights.
The initial study by the Corps focused on the Missouri River crossing but did not include the reservation. The tribe went to court and accused the Corps of gerrymandering, claiming an oil spill from the pipeline under the Lake Oahe reservoir on the Missouri River could harm the tribal community. Standing Rock is still in a lawsuit to shut down the pipeline.
The Corps said in its summary filed with the court Friday that the chances of an oil spill are low and any impacts to hunting and fishing “will be of limited scope and duration.” On the environmental justice issue, the agency said minority populations, including the tribe, and low-income groups are not at greater risk of “adverse human health or environmental effects.”
Mike Faith Jr., the Standing Rock chairman, said the corps failed to take a fresh look at the risks as was ordered by Boasberg.
Boasberg did not immediately rule on whether he was satisfied with the Corps’ additional work. However, when he ruled last October that the pipeline could continue operating while the work was done, he hinted it might not take much.