Senator John Hoeven announced that North Dakota has been awarded nearly $28 million following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor. The decision is a result of the state’s lawsuit against the federal government, which covers emergency response costs caused by the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests. This ruling follows a previous $10 million reimbursement secured by Hoeven in 2017 while serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Hoeven expressed satisfaction with the ruling, attributing the protests’ prolonged impact to the federal government’s negligence. “The federal government, through its negligence, allowed lawlessness to take hold on Army Corps land, resulting in months of disruption to local residents’ lives, threats to their safety, and significant costs to the state,” Hoeven stated.
The ruling acknowledges the state’s claims of improper federal oversight during the protests. Hoeven praised Attorney General Drew Wrigley and his team for their role in the outcome, emphasizing accountability for federal officials. Hoeven concluded, “This nearly $28 million award is about accountability for federal officials and, when combined with the $10 million we previously secured, making the State of North Dakota whole again.”
