$12.8 million.
That’s the amount still owed to the Bank of North Dakota for law enforcement’s efforts in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
"As you know, a lawsuit has been filed against the Corps of Engineers to recover some of that cost," National Guard Adjutant General Alan Dohrmann told the state Emergency Commission. "We continue to work primarily with Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) to se if we can again access Department of Justice grants."
Dohrmann told the Commission he’s hoping to get some word on federal reimbursement before having to go to the 2019 Legislature for any deficiency appropriations.
Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Ray Holmberg (R-Grand Forks) said he thinks the Legislature will be “very reluctant” to pay off the DAPL loan.
"I think the Legislature prefers to keep it as a loan until there is some finality," Holmberg said. "We don't want to pay our bills, and then ask the Feds to re-supply us."