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Associated Press

Activist sentenced to prison for targeting North Dakota oil pipeline

Southern site of Keystone Pipeline
Pipe is stacked at the southern site of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Tom Pennington | Getty Images 2012

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An environmental activist from Seattle has been sentenced to serve one year in prison for targeting an oil pipeline in North Dakota.

Michael Foster in October 2016 cut through a chain link fence and turned a shut-off valve on the Keystone Pipeline as part of a four-state protest to draw attention to climate change and support demonstrations against the Dakota Access pipeline.

He was convicted last October of conspiracy, criminal mischief and trespass but acquitted of reckless endangerment. He was sentenced in Cavalier Tuesday.

Samuel Jessup of Vermont, who filmed Foster's protest, was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation for conspiracy.

Foster and Jessup were among 11 activists with the group Climate Direct Action who were arrested in North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Washington state the day of the protest.