Prairie Public NewsRoom
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Pipeline protest costs may exceed $6 million

North Dakota’s Congressional delegation says it will continue to push for federal reimbursement for costs the state has picked up in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple had asked for at least $6 million, to help pay for extra law enforcement that has been deployed for the protest. But so far, the federal government has not offered any financial help. And Dalrymple said those costs are going up.

"The way things are going, the law enforcement requirements haven't diminished at all," Dalrymple said. "As the days go by, yes, I am concerned that it may take more than that."

The delegation says it will work in the upcoming lame duck session to get the funding. Senator Heidi Heitkamp said the delegation came close in the latest “continuing budget resolution” Congress passed.

"We've elevated the issue, so that people have become informed," Heitkamp said. "We are working very hard to get the Administration's support for additional resources."

US Rp. Kevin Cramer said it';s an injustice is the federal government not providing assistance to North Dakota law enforcement to help keep people safe during the pipeline protests.

"They (the federal government) created the problem with their decisions and changing of the rules," Cramer said.

Dalrymple said he has faith in the delegation.

"I don't sit in my office every day, hoping for the money to show up," Dalrymple said. "This takes time."

But Dalrymple said in the meantime, he has no choice.

"I have to provide the resources to our law enforcement people to do what they have to do every day, to protect the public, protect workers, protect protestors, and make sure bad things don't happen."

Heitkamp said she also thinks law enforcement has done a good job to try and keep the peace during the protest.

"There's a First Amendment right to protest," Heitkamp said. "But there isn't a First Amendment right to trespass."

Related Content