October 25, 2016 Colonel Craig Baumgartner, District Commander Colonel Anthony Mitchell, District Commander
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis Clock Tower Building 1222 Spruce Street P.O. Box 2004 St. Louis, MO 63103 Rock Island, IL 61204 Colonel John W. Henderson, District Commander U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha 1616 Capitol Ave., Ste. 9000 Omaha, NE 68102 Dear Commanders Baumgartner, Henderson, and Mitchell: As governors of three states which the Dakota Access Pipeline route crosses
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Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota
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we write to you today to ask the United States Army Corps of Engineers to adhere to the process which was in place when this project began as you make the decision to issue the final federal easement required for the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross the Missouri River in North Dakota. We support an all-of-the-above energy approach, including traditional energy sources and renewable energy resources that give consumers energy choices in their homes, businesses, and vehicles.
The Dakota Access Pipeline has secured approvals from each of our respective states. Our individual utilities boards and commissions have agreed that the efforts outlined by Dakota Access will maintain the integrity of the land the pipeline crosses and will avoid or mitigate any effects to the surrounding environment or communities along the route. To date, the Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172 mile project which is at this moment roughly 75 percent complete. More than 96 percent of the route has already been lawfully approved and thoroughly reviewed in our states. In addition to the states
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regulatory reviews of this project, the project developers have consulted with your agency to ensure adherence to the current environmental review process. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has spent well over a year reviewing the permit and it is now time for the Corps of Engineers to proceed with the last step of the process so that our states can begin to realize the benefits and opportunities provided by this important and vital piece of energy infrastructure. It is our understanding that this project meets all of the established federal requirements necessary to move the project forward. We understand that there is an effort underway to evaluate and potentially amend the process by which the federal government relates to tribal nations with the siting and permitting of potential infrastructure projects. Until formal changes are made to your regulatory process, it is critical to adhere to the current and established regulatory requirements in place today. Further delay in issuing the easement will negatively impact our states and our citizens. Construction delays will negatively impact landowners and farmers who will risk having multiple growing seasons impacted by construction activities. It is in the best interest of all parties to mitigate any further negative impacts.
