Heinrich Welcomes Administration’s Response To Tribal Concerns Over Dakota Access Pipeline Project
"I will explore ways to improve the tribal consultation process for projects like this one so voices and expertise from Native communities are successfully included."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) welcomed news from the Department of Justice, the Department of the Army, and the Department of the Interior that the agencies would halt the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline to allow for "a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes' views on these types of infrastructure projects." The full statement from the agencies is available here.
"I commend the administration for responding to the significant concerns from tribal communities across the nation regarding the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and the abusive treatment of protestors," said Sen. Heinrich. "Halting the project will allow for the due consideration of tribal lands, resources, and treaty rights. I will explore ways to improve the tribal consultation process for projects like this one so voices and expertise from Native communities are successfully included."
Senator Heinrich, along with U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham, sent a letter to President Obama calling on the administration to intervene in the recent escalation of violence by private security personnel against Native protestors over the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.
