MANDAN, ND - The developer of the Dakota Access pipeline says oil has been placed in the pipe under a Missouri River reservoir and the full line will be in service soon.
Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners made the announcement in a court filing Monday.
The move comes despite months of protests and the objections of two American Indian tribes who say a rupture could threaten their water supply and cultural sites. The Sioux tribes still have an unresolved lawsuit seeking to stop the project.
The company says the four-state, 1,200-mile pipeline is safe. The U.S. government gave ETP permission to complete the project after Republican President Donald Trump took office.
The protests were centered in North Dakota.