Tribes’ request for more say in Dakota Access study denied

BISMARCK, N.D. – A judge has rejected the request by two American Indian tribes to be more involved in a court-ordered environmental review of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg last year allowed oil to begin flowing between North Dakota and Illinois. But he also ordered the Army Corps of Engineers and developer Energy Transfer Partners to do additional study and planning.

The Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux maintain that they’re being left out of the process. They asked Boasberg to order they be given more involvement.

Some of the work has been completed, and Boasberg says that makes part of the issue moot. Some is ongoing, and Boasberg says the tribes can continue their argument that it’s flawed when the work is completed and presented to him.