Standing Rock Tribe Sues U.S. Army Corps Over DAPL

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has filed a new lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, seeking to halt the operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), which they claim is operating illegally. The tribe argues that the pipeline endangers their water supply, violates their sovereignty, and threatens sacred cultural sites. Their complaint, submitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asserts that the Army Corps permitted the pipeline to operate without necessary easements, adequate environmental impact studies, or emergency spill response plans. The lawsuit was partly prompted by a recent engineering report indicating that significant amounts of drilling mud were unaccounted for during construction. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire emphasized the fight for their rights and water, highlighting the historical context of the land involved. The Army Corps has yet to respond to the lawsuit.