The American Petroleum Institute expressed deep disappointment Tuesday with a recent decision by federal authorities to halt construction of a North Dakota oil pipeline that has become the focus of Native American protests.

Work on the Dakota Access Pipeline was temporarily paused last week after three federal agencies said they needed to review the legality of the decision about where to locate the pipeline. Current plans call for the pipeline to run underneath the Missouri River about mile upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The tribe fears any leaks into the river would contaminate their main water supply. They also said part of the pipeline is being built on land sacred to their people.

The tribe argues they were not consulted about the pipeline's construction, as required by law. However, a federal judge disagreed and ordered that construction could continue on the project. The federal government intervened soon afterward, pausing work so it could review the tribe's complaints.

The controversy has galvanized Native Americans across the country to protest against the project. API, on the hand, said the pipeline is needed to supply the energy needs of a growing economy.

"With the Dakota Access Pipeline, the administration's recent attempts to change the rules, in the middle of the game, set a dangerous precedent for our country that could threaten other infrastructure projects like bridges, roads and electricity transmission," API CEO Jack Gerard said. "Moving forward, it's critical that the rule of law is followed as the need for new energy infrastructure grows."

North America's Building Trades Unions—a union that includes oil workers among its members—joined API in its criticism of the administration.

"We fear that President Obama has now set a dangerous precedent where political considerations can now thwart or delay every single infrastructure project moving forward," union President Sean McGarvey said. http://bit.ly/2cXWshM

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