BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on the builder of the Dakota Access pipeline contributing $15 million to North Dakota to help cover costs of policing protests (all times local):

5:55 p.m.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he’s grateful that the company that built the Dakota Access pipeline has given the state $15 million to cover the costs of policing months of sometimes violent protests.

Burgum says the state will use the money to pay down debt it took on during the pipeline struggle. The state has a line of credit of $43 million to cover its costs.

The Standing Rock Sioux opposed the pipeline out of fear it would endanger water. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including many from out of state, helped police protests that included a months-long encampment in North Dakota.

Burgum says he’s committed to pursuing other avenues so North Dakota taxpayers don’t have to pay costs alone.

The company, Energy Transfer Partners, had long offered to help pay but former Gov. Jack Dalrymple had feared it might not be legal. Legislators passed a bill this year that called for accepting reimbursement.

5:36 p.m.

The company that built the Dakota Access Pipeline is giving North Dakota $15 million to help cover the costs of policing extensive protests of the pipeline.

A spokesman for Gov. Doug Burgum told The Associated Press on Thursday that Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners has wired the money.

North Dakota already had borrowed $43 million to cover law enforcement costs for the protests, which lasted months. The state this week also got a $10 million grant from the U.S. Justice Department to help pay some of the policing bills.

ETP had a longstanding offer to help cover some costs, but former Gov. Jack Dalrymple had declined. He said it was unclear whether the state could legally accept it.

Gov. Doug Burgum has long said he was open to the offer.

First Published: September 28, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
Updated: September 28, 2017, 11:08 p.m.