Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance, discusses the development on Fox News. The Alliance represents the Western oil and natural gas industry and is a supporter of Western Wire.
Today, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it will grant the final permit needed for the completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,172-mile pipeline that which will transport oil from North Dakota to Illinois.
The permit, granting an easement allowing the pipeline to complete its route by crossing the Missouri River in North Dakota, was previously withheld by the Obama administration. The easement could go into effect as soon as tomorrow.
“President Trump has promised to put Americans back to work and this is an important step in fulfilling that promise,” said U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, in a statement released this afternoon. “This project will also provide an efficient means of transporting American oil and will improve our nation’s energy security.”
Elected officials in the region are cheering the announcement. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said in a statement, “I am grateful for President Trump’s commitment to taking swift action on this and other issues of concern to the American people. North Dakota looks forward to the safe completion and operation of this modern energy infrastructure to improve America’s economy and security.”
U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) also praised the decision. “For the North Dakota families, workers and tribes who have felt the impact of the Dakota Access pipeline conflict every day – today’s announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brings this issue one step closer to final resolution – and delivers the certainty and clarity I’ve been demanding,” she said in a statement.
The Corps’ permit comes exactly two weeks after President Donald Trump issued a presidential memo ordering the Army Secretary to expedite the review and approval of the pipeline. Labor unions that had endorsed his opponent, Hillary Clinton, during the presidential election applauded the move, as reported by Western Wire.
