BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple has re-emphasized his state has no intention of blocking food and supplies from coming into a large encampment where people have gathered to protest the four-state Dakota Access pipeline.
Dalrymple issued a “mandatory evacuation” Monday for the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires camp, on federal land “to safeguard against harsh winter conditions.”
Dalrymple said Wednesday that the order created a misunderstanding after some state officials said delivering supplies to the camp could be subject to a $1,000 fine.
The Republican says the state “is not going to have roadblocks and we are not going to be stopping people” because it would be a “huge mistake from a humanitarian viewpoint.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently said all federal lands north of the Cannonball River will be closed to public access Dec. 5, including the camp.
North Dakota leaders will borrow an additional $7 million to cover the cost of law enforcement related to the ongoing protest of the four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline.
The state’s Emergency Commission voted Wednesday to borrow the funds from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota. The commission is headed by Dalrymple.
The group earlier approved $10 million in emergency spending.
Officials say the new loan should cover the state’s cost of policing protests over the $3.8 billion pipeline through December.
Dalrymple says requests for reimbursement from the federal government have been unsuccessful.
Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners says it made an offer to reimburse the state for policing costs. Dalrymple says he is not aware of an offer and it’s unclear whether the state could legally accept it.
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