President-elect Donald Trump supports the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, his spokesman said on Monday when asked about the government’s ruling against the controversial project.
“With regard to the Dakota Access Pipeline, that’s something that we support construction of and we’ll review the full situation when we’re in the White House and make the appropriate determination at that time,” Trump spokesman Jason Miller said at a transition team news briefing.
READ MORE: Dakota Access pipeline construction halted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
According to the president-elect’s 2016 federal disclosure forms, he owned between $15,000 and $250,000 in companies directly involved in the construction of the pipeline.
The Pipeline is almost finished
The pipeline is complete except for a 1-mile (1.61 km)segment that was to run under Lake Oahe, which required permission from federal authorities.
The protest camp’s numbers swelled in recent days as hundreds of U.S. veterans joined the protesters.
Several veterans who recently arrived at the camp told Reuters that they thought Sunday’s decision was a tactic to get protesters to leave. They said they had no plans to leave because they anticipate heated opposition from Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) and the incoming administration.
“That drill is still on the drill pad. Until that’s gone, this is not over,” said veteran Matthew Crane, 32, from Buffalo, New York.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would analyze possible alternate routes, but any other route also is likely to cross the Missouri River.
Standing Rock Chairman Dave Archambault II said in a statement on Sunday that he hoped ETP, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and Trump would respect the decision.
“When it comes to infrastructure development in Indian Country and with respect to treaty lands, we must strive to work together to reach decisions that reflect the multifaceted considerations of tribes,” he said.
North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer, a Republican who has advised Trump on energy policy, said the decision ignored the rule of law.
Tom Goldtooth, a member of the Lakota people from Minnesota and co-founder of Indigenous Environmental Network, said he expected Trump to try to reverse the decision.
“I think we’re going to be in this for the long haul. That’s what my fear is,” he said.
With files from the Associated Press
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