The Army Corps of Engineers has halted construction of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, the site of protests from Native Americans worried that a small part of the pipeline will contaminate their water supply.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on Sunday that it would halt work on the pipeline in North Dakota while an environmental impact study can be done to search for another route that doesn’t cross the land in dispute.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement that the corps would be looking for potentially alternative routes.
“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision,” he said.
The corps had previously told a throng of protesters to leave the northern part of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation earlier this week but protesters have so far defied the order.
The Sioux were concerned about whether the Dakota Access oil pipeline could contaminate their water supply.
Last month, the Obama administration announced it wouldn’t grant an easement for the pipeline to move forward.
On Sunday thousands of U.S. veterans were expected to arrive at Standing Rock to show support to protesters there.
The clashes between protesters and law enforcement have gotten the attention of several political figures, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Warren said on Facebook Sunday that protesters have faced attack dogs, rubber bullets and tear gas.
