PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – The State-Tribal Relations Committee of the South Dakota legislature approved a bill that would make pipeline companies more accountable for any problems caused by a leak.

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier says natives don’t have any protections.

Committee Member, Senator Troy Heinert of Mission says current state law is very weak.

Heinert says the bill has been refined from one in the last session that failed.

The issue came up due to construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline and the proposed Keystone XL line.