Standing Rock Sioux sues Corps over oil pipeline permits

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is suing federal regulators for approving permits for a $3.8 billion pipeline that will move oil from North Dakota to Illinois.

Tribal officials filed the lawsuit Wednesday against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps issued permits for the project on Tuesday.

The Standing Rock tribe opposes the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is planned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners. The tribe says it fears a spill could contaminate drinking water on its reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border.

The tribe also says in court documents that the project threatens sacred sites and violates federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act.

Corps spokeswoman Eileen Williamson says the agency's review of the pipeline found "no significant impacts to the environment or historic properties."