South Dakota lawmakers are rejecting a proposal to place a moratorium on new crude oil pipeline construction.
Democratic State Representative Shaun Bordeaux represents portions of the Rosebud Reservation.
He says the bill comes in the wake of looming Keystone XL pipeline construction.
“We have people who, for countless eons, have been in these lands here. To just dig up for a pipeline and expect that its good for commerce and that’s the end of the story, we really need to have a discussion about the land and the health of the land.”
Supporters of the bill say the state needs a plan in place when a pipeline spill occurs and impacts drinking water sources.
Last year, the Keystone pipeline spilled over 200-thousand gallons of crude oil in northeastern South Dakota.
Bordeaux says he, and other representatives will continue to bring similar legislation.
He’s also sponsoring a bill that requires tribal approval before any extraction of minerals or resources in the Black Hills.