BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is suing federal regulators for approving permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline that will move oil from North Dakota to Illinois.
Tribal officials filed the lawsuit Wednesday against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which issued permits for the project on Tuesday.
The Standing Rock tribe opposes the $3.8 billion pipeline planned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners because it fears a spill could contaminate drinking water on the reservation that straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border.
The tribe also alleges in court papers that the project threatens sacred sites and is in violation of the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws.
The Corps of Engineers did not immediately return telephone calls from The Associated Press on Thursday.