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The US Army Corps of Engineers has recommended that the Dakota Access Pipeline continue its operations following a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released on Friday. This recommendation supports Energy Transfer, the pipeline's operator, amid ongoing legal disputes.

The EIS stipulates enhanced groundwater monitoring, regular water and sediment sampling, and the installation of new leak detection technology. The pipeline transports up to 750,000 barrels of crude oil daily over a distance of 1,100 miles from North Dakota to Illinois and has been operational throughout the review.

This recommendation follows a 2022 federal court order for a detailed environmental study and moves the project closer to resolution. However, it faces opposition from Native American tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, concerned about environmental risks related to the pipeline's crossing under Lake Oahe, near their reservation. Legal experts predict further court challenges may arise.