Supreme Court Hands Loss To Trump-Approved Dakota Access Pipeline

The Supreme Court rejected a petition from the Dakota Access oil pipeline operator Tuesday to end the ongoing environmental review into the project.

The high court’s decision turning down the request partially upheld a federal district judge’s July 2020 ruling that ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prepare a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on the pipeline. The lower court ruling also required Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL) operator Energy Transfer to shut down operations of the pipeline within 30 days, but an appeals court nixed that part of the ruling in August 2020.

While the pipeline, which transports an estimated 570,000 barrels of crude oil per day from North Dakota to Illinois, remains operational, Energy Transfer has argued that the threat of a sweeping EIS and potential shutdown has created uncertainty for its future. The company asked the Supreme Court to review its case and cancel the environmental review in a September court filing.