The Army is allowing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue, after it’s been a topic of concern for thousands of protesters for months.
Acting Secretary of the Army Robert Speer “has directed the Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with the easement needed to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline,” Sen. John Hoeven said on Tuesday, according to CNN.
Speer’s decision is set to put the finishing touches on a $3.8 billion project that came to a halt months ago.
While the easement “isn’t quite issued yet,” it’s reportedly within days of being approved, according to Hoeven’s spokesman, Don Canton, The Associated Press noted.
Native American groups and climate activists have been protesting the project for months, and won a temporary victory when former President Barack Obama delayed the pipeline’s construction for environmental review, Reuters noted.
However, that victory was over for protesters after President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week, advancing the approval process for the controversial project – an action that prompted Rep. Kevin Cramer to praise him as a “man of action,” CNN noted.
“What this country needs is more jobs, and that is why I have always been a proponent of the Keystone XL Pipeline and was an original co-sponsor of legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline project,” said Sen. Joe Manchin, according to CNN. “With a majority of Americans in support of the Keystone XL pipeline’s construction, I’m glad we are finally moving forward with this important project.”
Once finalized, the final part of construction will take place under Lake Oahe, which accounts for a wide section of the Missouri River in the southern part of North Dakota.
The completion of the pipeline will enable the transfer of oil from North Dakota to Illinois.