Army Corps of Engineers blocks proposed route of Dakota Access pipeline

Federal regulators announced Sunday they will not grant an easement for a controversial oil pipeline to cross near Sioux Territory and go under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The project is nearly completed with the exception of the segment that would have gone underneath Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir.

He added that the tribe hopes Energy Transfer Partners CEO Kelcy Warren, Gov. Jack Dalrymple and the incoming Trump administration respect the decision.

“President Obama’s decision not to issue the final easement is a rejection of the entire regulatory and judicial system, as well as the scores of Army Corps of Engineers and civil servants who toiled for more than 800 days to ensure the process was followed correctly, in accordance with the law”, Mr. Stevens said.

“It took tremendous courage to take a new approach to our nation-to-nation relationship, and we will be forever grateful”, he said.

The news comes on a day when at least 2,000 US military veterans have arrived at Standing Rock amid frigid cold to help battle against the construction of the pipeline.

Jan Hasselman, an Earthjustice staff attorney representing the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, said Sunday’s decision would be useful in a court challenge because it cites a number of concerns first voiced by activists on the ground.

The four-state, $3.8 billion project is largely complete except for the now-blocked segment underneath Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir.

Woodson also said that “they’re trying to force pipes on people” but that “we’re trying to get pipes in Flint for safe water”. And shortly after the veterans’ arrival, protesters received some unexpected – and highly welcome – news ahead of Monday’s mandatory evacuation deadline.

Snow covers Oceti Sakowin Camp near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on November 30, 2016, outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota.

“They weren’t argumentative, they didn’t say what we were doing was wrong, they just said that they were in disagreeance (sic) with us, but they wished us well”, said Lodge.

Activists celebrate at Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 4, 2016 outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Officials brought in reinforcements from seven states to remove protesters and dismantle roadblocks made of hay bales and wood.

Earlier on Sunday, about 250 veterans with the group Veterans Standing for Standing Rock arrived to form a human barrier to protect demonstrators who planned to stay at the campsite despite orders to leave.

“It was a strategy, they didn’t want to be seen as beating up on the vets”, said Damien Wair, a 71-year-old veteran whose mother was Creek and father was Kiowa. Clark asked veterans to help out anyone who needs it at camp.

Pipeline protesters, said the News’ Bonnie King, came prepared to dig in for the winter.

On Dec. 5, water protectors at Standing Rock were supposed to be evacuated for the pipeline to make its way through the area – which has been occupied by indigenous peoples and their supporters for months.

Allard said he’s been telling his people “to stand up and not to leave until this is over”.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) praised President Obama for listening to the Native American people, and the protesters, “I appreciate very much President Obama listening to the Native American people and millions of others who believe this pipeline should not be built”. More than 550 people protesters have been arrested, according to the Morton County Sheriff’s Dept.

Police have blocked Highway 1806 at Backwater Bridge, just north of the Oceti Sakowin camp, since October 27, when protesters burned several vehicles on that structure.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II, image credit: YES! Archambault told the Bismarck Tribune this weekend that he wanted the blockade on the bridge, damaged in late October during a protest, lifted.