Dakota Access Judge Tightens Oversight Citing Keystone Rupture

Citing the Keystone pipeline rupture in South Dakota last month, the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit over the Dakota Access pipeline ordered its builders, opponents and the Army Corps of Engineers to give him a spill-response plan by April 1.

Judge James E. Boasberg issued the order Dec. 4 in response to Native American tribes’ requests he clamp down on the conduit while the corps conducts a court-ordered re-evaluation of its impact on their hunting and fishing rights and other aspects. In October, the judge rejected their request in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Eng’rs that ...