The confrontation seemed imminent.

The governor of North Dakota and the Army Corps of Engineers had both issued orders to close down Sacred Stone Camp, the main protest encampment near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, and allow construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline to proceed. Despite initial warnings that they’d be forcibly removed if they refused to relocate to a nearby “free speech zone” by December 5, the self-described “water protectors” vowed to hold the camp. As the deadline approached, some two thousand US military veterans arrived, promising to form a “human shield” to block any eviction.

Then, yesterday, came the Army Corps’ surprise announcement: Dakota Access would not be given the permits it needs to drill under the Missouri River, effectively halting the $3.8 billion oil infrastructure project. Auditors will now conduct an environmental impact statement and search for alternate routes.