Dakota Access Pipeline put on hold as government studies tribe's concerns

In a victory for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the U.S. Army Corps announced Monday that it won’t grant an easement to allow completion of the Dakota Access Pipeline while it looks further into concerns raised by the tribe.

The Corps announced it would set a timeline with the tribe for further consideration of its concerns, including the risk of spills into the Missouri River, the drinking- water source for the tribe and more than 17 million people downstream.

Energy Transfer Partners of Dallas, Texas, has completed the more than 1,100-mile oil pipeline through four states but for the last stage: drilling under the river to finish the pipeline. For that, it needs the easement to cross Corps land.

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/dakota-access-pipeline-put-on-hold-as-government-studies-tribes-concerns/