WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, issued the following statement regarding the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) holding public meetings this week on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
“The Dakota Access Pipeline has been safely operational for over half a decade and is the best method of transporting crude oil. Yet, radical left-wing environmentalists keep pushing to shut it down by unnecessarily drawing out the onerous EIS process,” said Senator Cramer. “While I am grateful this process is progressing, like many North Dakotans, I am still beyond frustrated with bureaucratic games and obstruction by liberal activists. I encourage all North Dakotans to provide their input and make their voice heard whether by attending an upcoming session or making a formal comment."
This is the next step in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental review process and will be followed by a Final EIS. The USACE has extended the comment period through December 13, 2023.
During the Obama Administration, on July 25, 2016, the USACE published a final Environmental Assessment and a Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact for the DAPL crossing of Lake Oahe. Litigation was filed against the USACE on this determination. Upon President Trump taking office, the USACE granted the easement on February 8, 2017, to allow construction to be completed.
The DAPL has safely delivered North Dakota crude oil to market since first becoming operational on June 1, 2017. A recent study from the University of Chicago reiterated shutting DAPL down would increase emissions. This is the third NEPA analysis covering the roughly 1,000-foot reservoir crossing provided by the USACE in seven years.