Army takes action on Dakota Access Pipeline

By U.S. ArmyFebruary 7, 2017

The Department of the Army announced today that it has completed a presidential-directed review of the remaining easement request for the Dakota Access pipeline, and has notified Congress that it intends to grant an easement for a right-of-way across government land at Lake Oahe Dam and Reservoir, North Dakota.

Mr. Robert Speer, Acting Secretary of the Army, announced the decision. Speer said the decision was made based on a sufficient amount of information already available which supported approval to grant the easement request and as a result, made the choice to terminate the notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

"Today's announcement will allow for the final step, which is granting of the easement," Speer explained. "Once that it done, we will have completed all the tasks in the Presidential Memorandum of January 24, 2017."

This action will serve to facilitate completion of the last mile and a half of the 1,172 mile pipeline, connecting the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to an existing crude oil terminal near Pakota, Illinois. The current proposed pipeline route would cross Lake Oahe, an Army Corps of Engineers project on the Missouri River.

For more information, contact the Army Public Affairs duty officer at (703) 220-9044 or usarmy.ocpa.press-desk@mail.mil.