Federal judge rules permits for Dakota Access Pipeline violated law News
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Federal judge rules permits for Dakota Access Pipeline violated law

A judge for the US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled Wednesday that the permits issued for the Dakota Access Pipeline violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The complaint was brought by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe as well as other tribes after the “U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concluded that granting an easement for the crossing would yield no significant environmental impact, thus exempting the agency from having to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the requirements of [NEPA].” The court found that “too many questions remain unanswered” regarding the possible environmental impacts of granting the easement.

The court ultimately ordered that the US Army Corps of Engineers prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.