North Dakota Regulators Eye Fine Against Pipeline Company
Energy Transfer Partners to be fined for not getting approval to work on the Dakota Access Pipeline construction project after artifacts were found.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators are proposing a fine of at least $15,000 against the company building the four-state Dakota Access pipeline.
The Public Service Commission said Monday in a complaint that a subsidiary of Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners didn’t get regulators’ approval to proceed with construction after artifacts, including stone cairns, were found last month.
The company diverted construction so the artifacts weren’t disturbed, a plan the State Historic Preservation Office concurred with. But the PSC says the company should have gotten clearance from regulators.
Energy Transfer Partners can agree to a fine or request a hearing. Spokeswoman Vicki Granado says the company doesn’t think it did anything wrong but is working with the PSC.
The $3.8 billion pipeline will carry North Dakota oil through South Dakota and Iowa to Illinois.