The Associated Press reported this week a federal judge’s decision whether there should be more extensive study of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline is months away.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do more studies in 2017 and they were completed in late August. His order came after American Indian tribes in North and South Dakota had raised more concerns about the environmental impact of the controversial line.
But the Army said in its latest report that the line poses no significant environmental threats to the tribes. The Corps did not release all of the analysis for it to be reviewed by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
But developer Energy Transfer Partners and and the tribes now have the document. Judge Boasberg ruled this week the parties have until Nov. 1 to submit proposals on how to move ahead with the case.
The Standing Rock Sioux sued in July 2016 but construction was finished and the line began operations in June 2017.
the tribes an opportunity to challenge the Corps analysis before making a final decision on whether it’s sufficient. Any tribal challenges could extend the case for months, he said.
___