A North Dakota legislative committee has approved an emergency request to borrow an additional $4 million to cover policing costs for the protest of the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
The state's Emergency Commission borrowed $6 million from the state-owned Bank of North Dakota in September. Officials say that money's been spent.
Protest encampments have attracted thousands of American Indians and others trying to halt construction of the four-state pipeline.
The commission, headed by Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple, approved the funding Tuesday.
North Dakota has asked federal officials to reimburse the state for the additional law enforcement costs. Dalrymple says the state also would be open to contributions from tribes and the Texas-based pipeline company.
Some of the emergency appropriation is being used to pay for law officers from other states, including South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Nebraska, Wyoming and Ohio.
