BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota leaders have approved an emergency request to 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 a panel of state officials and lawmakers headed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple that handles emergency funding requests when the Legislature isn’t in session.
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.
North Dakota and local governments have shouldered most of the expenses. Dalrymple says requests for reimbursement from the federal government have been unsuccessful so far.
