Although a District Court federal judge declined to stop the 1,100-mile fossil fuel project’s construction, three federal agencies have blocked the Dakota Access Pipeline pending a thorough review and reconsideration of the process. The Department of Justice, Department of the Army, and the Department of the Interior said that they will not allow the pipeline to be built on U.S. Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. The agencies requested that Dakota Access voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of the lake. Standing Rock Sioux stated on their Facebook page that this "sets the stage for a nationwide reform, establishing consultation with tribes regarding the need for meaningful tribal input for all pipeline projects in the future".

The three government agencies said in their joint statement that, "important issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations and their members regarding the Dakota Access pipeline specifically, and pipeline-related decision-making generally, remain". The statement went on to say that no construction on the Dakota Access pipeline will be authorized until it can be determined whether there need be reconsideration of any of previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws. In a nod to future decisions the statement said, "this case has highlighted the need for a serious discussion on whether there should be nationwide reform with respect to considering tribes’ views on these types of infrastructure projects".

Actions in support of the Water protectors continue to be held across California in response to the global call for solidarity by the Standing Rock protest camps for September 3-17. In Sacramento activists demonstrated outside of Citibank because it is one of the financial institutions whose loans have funded the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Groups in Santa Cruz County are planning trips out to Standing Rock to support the Water protectors. The Stanford University American Indian Organization said that the Dakota Access Pipeline is the epitome of modern-day colonization, terrorism, and genocide.

Read More: Obama Administration Steps Up: Dakota Access Pipeline Construction Temporarily Halted | Chief Baker issues statement on Standing Rock ruling | Authorities Must Protect Peaceful Protest Following Ruling on Dakota Access Pipeline | Standing Rock Sioux Tribe calls for peace in advance of court ruling | Nurses Applaud Federal Move to Halt Dakota Pipeline, Call for Permanent End to Project

See Also: Sacramento Area Residents Hold Protest Against Dakota Access Pipeline Outside Citibank | Two Spirit Society of Indian Canyon stands with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Sacred Stone Camp | Karuk Tribe Stands in Support of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation | Santa Cruz Solidarity with Standing Rock Water Protectors to Oppose Dakota Oil Pipeline | Stanford American Indian Organization Letter of Solidarity with the Standing Rock Lakota and Dakota Peoples | Center for Biological Diversity Stands With Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Opposing Dakota Oil Pipeline

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