10.20.21

Hoeven Statement on Federal Judge's Ruling Allowing North Dakota to Claim Damages Resulting from DAPL Protests

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor rejected a motion from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that sought to prevent North Dakota from claiming damages against the federal government to cover its emergency response expenses from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven secured $10 million in Fiscal Year 2017 through the DOJ Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance program to help reimburse the state. 

“The State of North Dakota faced tremendous costs to support both law enforcement and cleanup due to the federal government’s negligence during the DAPL protests. That’s why we’ve worked to reimburse the state and support Attorney General Stenehjem in this lawsuit. We welcome this week’s ruling from Judge Traynor, and we continue to encourage the DOJ to reach a settlement with the state."  

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