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Protester On Pipeline Decision: 'I Have Been Praying For This'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Protesters in North Dakota scored a major victory Sunday afternoon after the Army Corps of Engineers, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, decided to explore re-routing the hotly-contested Dakota Access Pipeline.

Thousands of protesters gathered to celebrate, sing sacred songs and cheer when they got word on the decision Sunday. Federal officials said they will not provide a permit that would allow the proposed oil pipeline to cross under a lake that is just half of a mile from the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.

North Dakota's governor had given protesters the deadline of Monday to evacuate, citing weather concerns, but later backtracked if protesters agreed to certain conditions.

Instead, protesters invited a couple thousand veterans to stand on the front lines of the protest with them.

WCCO spoke with one of the Minnesota veterans who had planned to go to Standing Rock Sunday before the Army's decision was announced. Nancy David-Ortiz of northeast Minneapolis is a 28-year Army veteran of Choctaw heritage.

Davis-Ortiz is also affiliated with the group Native Lives Matter.

"I have been praying for this," Davis-Ortiz said. "When I finally got the news I cried and screamed."

"I am so full of joy and it's like this mini revolution has taken hold and people are coming from around the world," Davis-Ortiz said.

Davis-Ortiz intended to go to North Dakota to stand with thousands of protesters trying to block construction of the 1,200-mile $3.7 billion dollar proposed pipeline, which would transport 470,000 barrels of oil a day across four states.

Officials for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe fear an oil spill from the pipeline could be hazardous to their people and their water supply.

"We are so tough and our values are so strong and they're grounded in the Earth," Davis-Ortiz said.

In recent months, protesters have also rallied across the country and in Minnesota, against banks like Wells Fargo, financing the companies building the pipeline, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office for sending aid to law enforcement in North Dakota.

HCSO said it sent aid as part of a multi-state agreement to help fellow law enforcement agencies when it is needed.

The Army Corps of Engineers announced three weeks ago it would delay the decision on granting the final permit to move ahead with construction near Standing Rock, but it was not until Sunday that the federal government decided there is a need to explore alternate routes.

"It's a huge victory because we are right and we have to preserve this Earth or there won't be anything left," Davis-Ortiz said.

With an uncertain future for the pipeline, Davis-Ortiz said she will still go to Standing Rock in the future if she is needed.

"I am so proud of the veterans because until we die we have a duty and we believe that strongly," Davis-Ortiz said.

The Army Corps of Engineers now plans an environmental impact statement with full public input and analysis.

It is unclear if the pipeline will in fact be rerouted.

The governor of North Dakota called today's decision a "big mistake" and President-elect Donald Trump has said he supports building the pipeline as planned.

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