North Dakota to Face Federal Government in Trial Over DAPL Costs Starting Thursday
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota’s case against the federal government for compensation for damages during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests is going to trial on Thursday.
It will be overseen and decided by U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor in Bismarck.
The state has been in a battle over recouping $38 million in damages tied to the protest south of Mandan between 2016 and 2017.
They say the federal government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ failure to contain the protests or assist law enforcement resulted in the damages.
According to the lawsuit, activists illegally occupied federal lands and engaged in unlawful, destructive, and violent acts.
It says North Dakota was left without assistance to protect public safety and clean the very land the activists sought to protect.
The pipeline has been in operation between the Bakken in North Dakota and Illinois since 2017.
