Dakota Access, LLC, submitted an application for permits and permissions to construct and operate the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) Project, a 1,168-mile, crude oil pipeline system designed to carry up to 570,000 barrels per day of U.S. light sweet from the Bakken and Three Forks production region of North Dakota to Patoka, Ill.
USACE Responsibilities
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for evaluating and issuing permits for all water crossings under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and Sections 10 and 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. In total, USACE has jurisdiction over a very small portion of the total pipeline project—approximately 37 miles of the pipeline’s 1,168 total miles. However, these 37 miles encompass 202 jurisdictional water crossings, which USACE was required to review and complete each as a single project.
Throughout the permitting review and approval process, USACE has worked diligently to meet its obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires consultation with Native American Tribes. Specifically, USACE has completed cultural resource surveys for USACE jurisdictional areas; facilitated individual Tribal site surveys; consulted more than 250 times with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), respective State Historic Preservation Offices and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices or other designated Tribal representatives.
USACE is charged with supporting economic development and ensuring measures exist to minimize impacts to the environment and the authorized purposes for which the Missouri River Reservoirs are operated. To this end, USACE seeks to support energy development in accordance with EO 13604 in an environmentally sound manner.
In response to public feedback, we have established a comment line for those interested in voicing their thoughts and concerns on the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Interested parties can call (202) 761-8700.