ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Construction is underway in three of four states on a $3.8 billion pipeline that will carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois.
Work on the Dakota Access Pipeline has begun in North Dakota, South Dakota and Illinois, spokeswoman Lisa Dillinger told the American News. The 1,150-mile pipeline also will cross Iowa, but regulators there declined this week to act quickly on a request to allow Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners to begin construction in that state.
The pipeline will carry nearly half a million barrels of crude from western North Dakota’s Bakken oil fields each day to a tank storage facility in southern Illinois. It’s been approved by regulators in all four states. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still must issue permits for the pipeline to cross the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.
Dakota Access LLC, a unit of Energy Transfer Partners, secured easements from landowners along the route to pass through their property. Landowner Perry Schmidt in northeastern South Dakota’s Spink County said crews in his area have been busy locating utility lines, preparing roadways for construction and planting stakes in construction areas to ensure farmers “aren’t wasting money planting seed.”
Dakota Access LLC said last week that it had to start laying pipe this week in order to finish before winter and avoid disturbing farmland for a second growing season.
“I’m glad it’s getting started so they can get done on time,” Schmidt said.