Cohen Praises Decision to Seek an Alternative Route for Dakota Access Pipeline

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today released the following statement on the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to not issue a permit for the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The Army Corps of Engineers announced that it plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for alternative routes. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters have raised concerns that routing the pipeline under the lake could contaminate the water supply for the Native American reservation.

“I am pleased the Army Corps of Engineers decided against issuing a permit for the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline through the Standing Rock Sioux reservation,” said Congressman Cohen. “I was proud to join my colleagues in urging the President to cease construction of the pipeline and protect the civil rights and civil liberties of the water protectors, veterans and supporters who have spent months protesting the pipeline. I will continue to monitor the situation as the Army Corps of Engineers releases their Environmental Impact Statements on alternate routes, and I urge the incoming administration to uphold the decision to seek an alternative route for the pipeline.”

Congressman Cohen cosigned a letter to President Obama in September urging the Army Corps of Engineers to block the construction of the pipeline. You can read that letter here.

Congressman Cohen also cosigned a letter to President Obama in November urging the President to send Department of Justice observers to protect the civil rights and liberties of the protesters and withdraw the National Guard to reduce tensions in the area. You can read that letter here.

Congressman Cohen cosigned a letter to Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter earlier this month to request the return of military equipment obtained by local and state law enforcement agencies in North Dakota through the Department of Defense after evidence of the excessive use of force by law enforcement against the Water Protectors. You can read that letter here.