On June 30, 2022, a federal judge in Montana ordered the Dakota Access Pipeline to shut down within 30 days. The judge ruled that the pipeline violated the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ environmental review process.
The Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172-mile pipeline that carries oil from North Dakota to Illinois. It was built in 2017 after years of controversy and protests from Native American tribes and environmental groups.
The pipeline’s opponents argued that it would threaten the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and damage sacred sites. They also argued that the pipeline would increase greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change.
The Trump administration approved the pipeline in 2016, but the Biden administration has ordered a review of the project. The review is ongoing, but the judge’s ruling is a major setback for the pipeline.
The judge’s ruling is based on a 2020 law that requires the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the impact of pipelines on climate change. The law was passed in response to the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental regulations.
The judge found that the Army Corps of Engineers failed to adequately consider the climate impacts of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The judge also found that the pipeline would violate the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires the government to consider the environmental impact of major projects.
The Army Corps of Engineers has said that it will appeal the judge’s ruling. The company that operates the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners, has also said that it will appeal.
The judge’s ruling is a victory for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and environmental groups. It is also a setback for the Biden administration, which has been under pressure to cancel the pipeline.
