Fedorchak Statement on DAPL Protest Settlement

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today released the following statement after North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley announced a final settlement requiring the federal government to reimburse North Dakota $27.8 million for costs incurred during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016 and 2017. Combined with the $10 million previously secured for the state, North Dakota will recover nearly $38 million in protest-related expenses.

"The Dakota Access Pipeline was legally permitted, has operated safely for nearly a decade, and remains critical to North Dakota's economy, energy industry, and America's energy security. More than 30 hours of public hearings were held with input from hundreds of people. Yet, for more than 230 days, North Dakota communities, law enforcement officers, and taxpayers carried the burden of responding to unlawful activity while the federal government failed to act responsibly on federal land," Fedorchak said. "The people of North Dakota should never have been left footing the bill for the Obama administration's failure to enforce the law during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. I'm grateful to Attorney General Drew Wrigley, late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, and the law enforcement officers and local officials who stood up for our communities."

Background:

• North Dakota's emergency response to the DAPL protests lasted more than 230 days and involved 178 response agencies across multiple counties.

• Law enforcement made 761 arrests during the protests, including 709 involving out-of-state individuals.

• The protests resulted in millions of dollars in law enforcement, emergency response, and cleanup costs borne by North Dakota taxpayers.

• Last month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized the Record of Decision for DAPL, helping provide long-term certainty for continued pipeline operations in North Dakota.