Dakota Access Pipeline will Continue Operations, Despite Environmental Impact Study

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered more environmental study anyway

NORTH DAKOTA — A federal judge says the Dakota Access oil pipeline can continue operating while an environmental impact study is done.

The $3.8 billion pipeline built by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners began moving North Dakota oil to Illinois on June 1.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered more environmental study anyway.

He has now ruled that the pipeline can keep operating while that work is done.

North Dakota officials say the pipeline has boosted the state’s tax revenues by $18 million in its first three months of operation.