09.01.20

Hoeven Statement on Army Under Secretary Recommending DOJ Settle With North Dakota Over DAPL Costs Lawsuit

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today released the following statement after Under Secretary of the Army James McPherson recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) enter into negotiations to settle the State of North Dakota’s lawsuit that seeks to recover the costs related to the illegal protests surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline. This follows a court ruling from last month that allowed four of the state’s five claims to move forward. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven previously secured $10 million in Fiscal Year 2017 through the DOJ Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance program to help reimburse the state. McPherson’s letter to the DOJ can be found here. 

“We welcome Under Secretary McPherson’s recommendation for the DOJ to enter into settlement negotiations with North Dakota. These costs are rightfully the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers, and we encourage DOJ to take this reasonable step that would save the state and federal government time and money.” 

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