Sen. Heitkamp praises Army Corps decision to remove DAPL protesters from federal land

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., called the decision to remove Dakota Access Pipeline protesters from U.S. Army Corps land needed and asked President Barack Obama to make a final decision on Missouri River easement Saturday.

“The decision by the Army Corps is a needed step to support the safety of residents, workers, protestors, and law enforcement,” said Heitkamp in a statement. “Safety must remain the top priority for everyone, and to help make that possible, it’s critical protestors peacefully and lawfully move off of the Corps land north of the Cannonball River and to the identified federal and tribal lands. There has been an escalation of violence among some of the protestors that puts their lives, as well as the lives of law enforcement, residents, and land owners in jeopardy. We will continue to work together in a bipartisan way to make sure the Corps’ decision is adhered to and that all North Dakotans are protected. That also means the Administration must make a decision on the easement under Lake Oahe – just as I pressed the White House for again during a conversation last week. For too long, we have waited in limbo as the decision is put off. This issue needs to be put to rest once and for all for the sake of the safety of our communities.”

Heitkamp says she met with a top White House official last week to push for a decision on Lake Oahe and federal funds for law enforcement.