The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., Friday to halt operations of the Dakota Access pipeline until a full environmental assessment is completed. The Army Corps of Engineers issued an easement in 2017 allowing for the construction of DAPL despite widespread protests that garnered international support. A court later found the easement violated the law, and remanded the issue back to the Army Corps, which the Sioux Tribe says conducted a “sham process” in order to go ahead with construction.
Meanwhile, the company behind the pipeline, Dakota Access LLC — which is owned by Energy Transfer Partners — is planning to expand its operations, doubling the amount of oil it transports from 570,000 to 1.1 million barrels per day. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is calling on North Dakota officials to hold a public hearing and properly evaluate the risks of the pipeline expansion to the tribe and the environment.