Reznet

Indians Say Pipeline Could Affect 87 Tribes

By the Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. — Four American Indian tribes have gone to federal court at Pierre in an effort to stop construction of the Keystone oil pipeline through eastern South Dakota and North Dakota.

The tribes argue that treaties, as well as federal laws and regulations, were broken during the environmental assessment of the route and subsequent granting of a presidential permit for the pipeline.

They say a proper review has not been done in conjunction with tribes on the potential of culturally significant sites along the pipeline corridor.

The pipeline is designed to move crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma.

The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and the Rosebud, Santee and Yankton Sioux tribes filed the lawsuit.

Tribal leaders say the pipeline project is enormous and that officials have not done a proper environmental assessment. The leaders also say the pipeline corridor will affect at least 87 tribes in six states.

The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. State Department. It alleges violations of 1851 and 1867 tribal treaties, along with various federal laws and administrative regulations.