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North Dakota awarded nearly $28 million from US for DAPL protest costs

KFYR-TV · last updated

BISMARCK, N.D. (KMOT) – A federal judge ruled the United States must pay the state of North Dakota nearly $28 million in damages for law enforcement and other costs during the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests in 2016 and 2017.

According to a report from Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s office, Judge Daniel Traynor ruled North Dakota had met its burden in the case, specifically pointing to the Army Corps giving the false impression it had issued a Special Use Permit for protestors.

In his ruling, Traynor called the Corps’ actions and inactions “negligent,” saying they led to “countless instances of civil trespass.”

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., along with Attorney General Drew Wrigley, praised the ruling. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer also issued statements in support of the ruling.

Your News Leader reached out to the Corps for comment.

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