Congressman Claims Dakota Access Pipeline has Army Approval Print
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Written by GBP Staff   
Wednesday, 01 February 2017 16:45

dakota-access-pipelineUnclear why Cramer would issue statement, as Environmental Impact Statement is still incomplete. Decision would be a huge setback for the Standing Rock Sioux and others who have opposed the pipeline route.


WASHINGTON, D.C. - North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer said on YouTube Tuesday that the Army Corps of Engineers will be granting the easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross beneath Lake Oahe.

kevin_cramer_congressThis approval would be needed to complete construction of the project, and follows President Trump’s Jan. 24 memorandum to the Secretary of the Army, directing that all federal agency reviews and approvals be expedited to complete the remaining portions of the pipeline.

It is unclear why Cramer would issue this statement at this time. According to the FEDERAL REGISTER, the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in Connection With Dakota Access, LLC's Request for an Easement To Cross Lake Oahe, by the Army Department on 01/18/2017, sets the North Dakota Army Core of Engineers' comment period for the Environmental Impact Statement as open until February 20, 2017. Are they are approving the Easement before they finish their own review?

Congressman Cramer's YouTube Statement is presented below:

2017 01 31 DAPL Easement Statement

Published on Jan 31, 2017

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in December that it would not grant an easement for the Dakota Access oil pipeline in southern North Dakota. The decision was a victory at the time for several thousand Native Americans and environmentalists camped near the construction site, who've said for months that the four-state, $3.8 billion project would threaten a water source and cultural sites.

The decision, if true, would be a huge setback for the Standing Rock Sioux and others who have opposed the pipeline route.

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Kevin John Cramer (born January 21, 1961) is a Republican politician who has been the United States Representative for North Dakota's At-large congressional district since 2013. Cramer was previously the Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party (1991–1993), State Tourism Director (1993–1997), Economic Development Director (1997–2000) and on the North Dakota Public Service Commission (2003–2012). In Congress, Cramer serves on the House Committee on Natural Resources and on the House Committee on Science and Technology.