The US Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday approved an easement allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating beneath North Dakota's Lake Oahe after years of legal and political disputes.
The agency selected "Alternative 4" in its Final Environmental Impact Statement, granting Dakota Access an easement for the pipeline crossing under the federally managed reservoir with additional safety and environmental conditions attached.
"This Record of Decision ... is a major win for American energy security and the rule of law," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said, adding that the decision strengthens energy independence.
The Dakota Access Pipeline, which transports crude oil from North Dakota's Bakken shale fields to Midwest and Gulf Coast markets, has been at the center of a prolonged legal battle over environmental risks and Tribal consultation.
The US Army Corps said the environmental review examined five alternatives for the Lake Oahe crossing, including removing the pipeline, abandoning it in place, rerouting the line, or issuing easements with varying conditions.
The agency said Alternative 4 was chosen because it "best balances public safety, protection of environmental resources, and leak detection and response considerations while meeting the project's purpose and need."
Under the decision, Dakota Access will be required to implement enhanced leak detection and monitoring systems, expanded groundwater and surface water monitoring, water supply contingency plans, subsistence studies coordinated with affected Tribes, and independent expert reviews of pipeline safety systems.
The Record of Decision does not authorize construction of new pipeline segments beyond the existing crossing, the agency said.