The Army Corps of Engineers told Congress on Tuesday that it will allow the $3.8-billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the disputed four-state project. The Corps intends to allow the Lake Oahe crossing as early as Wednesday, according to court documents the Justice Department filed that include letters to members of Congress from Deputy Assistant Army Secretary Paul Cramer. The stretch under Lake Oahe is the final big chunk of work on the 1,200-mile pipeline that would carry North Dakota oil through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Jan. 24 telling the Corps to quickly reconsider Darcy's decision. ALSOJournalist faces charges after arrest while covering Dakota Access pipeline protestThousands turn out in downtown L.A. to protest Trump's orders on Keystone, Dakota pipelinesSupporters say Dakota Access pipeline is back on.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 07, 2017 21:35 UTC