Federal Judge Orders More Environmental Analysis of Dakota Pipeline

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider its environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline, opening up the possibility that the line could be shut at a later date.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington said that the Army Corps did not adequately consider the effects of a possible oil spill on the fishing and hunting rights of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

Operations of Energy Transfer Partners LP's pipeline have not been suspended but that be considered at a later date, the order said.  The $3.8 billion line began interstate crude oil delivery in May.

The parties are expected to meet with Boasberg next Wednesday to discuss future steps; the Standing Rock Sioux are expected to argue that pipeline operations should be halted.

The judge said in a 91-page decision that while the Army Corps substantially complied with the National Environmental Policy Act, federal permits issued for the pipeline violated the law in some respects, saying in a court order the Corps did not "adequately consider the impacts of an oil spill on fishing rights, hunting rights, or environmental justice."

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