04.19.21

Hoeven Discusses Dakota Access Pipeline with Biden

Senator Delivers Letters from State of North Dakota, Three Affiliated Tribes to POTUS; Also Presses Army Corps Chief Spellmon for Adequate Consultation with State, Three Affiliated Tribes

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline. Hoeven attended a bipartisan meeting on infrastructure with President Biden today and delivered to the President letters from North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and the Three Affiliated Tribes requesting consultation on the pipeline. Hoeven has made the case to the administration, including President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, that the pipeline should remain in operation. The Senator has also repeatedly met and spoken with Army Corps Chief LTG Scott Spellmon, including again today, about the importance of the pipeline and urged him to ensure the court allows adequate time for tribal and state consultation and to help stave off a shutdown of DAPL while the Corps completes its environmental review.

“We made clear to President Biden that the Dakota Access Pipeline is vital infrastructure for North Dakota and our nation, and it should continue to operate for the good of our economy and our national security. This pipeline has safely operated for nearly four years and was built and operated in good faith under the Army Corps’ permitting process. It provides vital market access for Bakken crude, including from the Fort Berthold Reservation and the Three Affiliated Tribes. A shutdown of DAPL while the Corps completes the EIS would cause undue harm and devastating impacts to North Dakota, the Three Affiliated Tribes, and energy consumers across the region. That’s why we also outlined to the Administration the importance of ensuring the pipeline remains in operation and meaningful consultation occurs with the Three Affiliated Tribes and the State of North Dakota,” said Hoeven. 

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