The one-page ruling that did not include an explanation was handed down by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington this afternoon, according to ABC News.
The ruling by Judge Boasberg reads: “this Court does not lightly countenance any depredation of lands that hold significance to the Standing Rock Sioux” and that, given the federal government’s history with the tribe, “the Court scrutinizes the permitting process here with particular care. Having done so, the Court must nonetheless conclude that the Tribe has not demonstrated that an injunction is warranted here.”
The ruling also ordered that the parties in the lawsuit meet for a state conference on September 16. Attorney Jan Hasselman with the environmental group Earthjustice, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the tribe, requesting a temporary restraining order on construction of the pipeline in July, says the court’s ruling will be challenged.
“We will have to pursue our options with an appeal and hope that construction isn’t completed while that (appeal) process is going forward,” he said. “We will continue to pursue vindication of the tribe’s lawful rights even if the pipeline is complete.”
On Thursday, in anticipation of the ruling today, Gov. Jack Dalrymple activated the state National Guard “in the event they are needed to support law enforcement response efforts,” according to a National Guard spokesman, according to WTVR Richmond.
The Dakota Access Pipeline project would span four states and cost an estimated $3.7 billion. Proponents of the project see it as being an economic boon to the region that would change the landscape of the U.S. crude oil industry forever.
And that is just what opponents of the pipeline are concerned about., saying it would not only be an environmental disaster but would destroy sacred tribal burial grounds.
