Tribe files legal challenge to stall Dakota Access pipeline
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A section of the Dakota Access Pipeline under construction near the town of St. Anthony in Morton County, N.D., as seen on Sept. 29. The Army notified Congress, Tuesday, that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, completing the four-state project to move North Dakota oil to Illinois.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
People marched outside developer Energy Transfer Partners headquarters, protesting the Army Corps of Engineers approval of the final section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Tuesday. The Army said Tuesday that it will allow the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline to cross under a Missouri River reservoir in North Dakota, clearing the way for completion of the disputed four-state project.
CANNON BALL, N.D. >> Construction of the Dakota Access pipeline under a North Dakota reservoir has begun and the full pipeline should be operational within three months, the developer of the long-delayed project said today, even as an American Indian tribe filed a legal challenge to block the work and protect its water supply.
The Army granted Energy Transfer Partners formal permission Wednesday to lay pipe under Lake Oahe, clearing the way for completion of the 1,200-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline. ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado confirmed early today that construction resumed “immediately after receiving the easement.”
Workers had already drilled entry and exit holes for the crossing, and oil had been put in the pipeline leading up to the lake in anticipation of finishing the project.
“The estimate is 60 days to complete the drill and another 23 days to fill the line to Patoka,” Granado said, referring to the shipping point in Illinois that is the pipeline’s destination.
Work was stalled for months due to opposition by the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux, as well as a prolonged court battle between the developer and the Army Corps of Engineers that oversees the federal land where the last segment of the pipeline is now being laid. President Donald Trump last month instructed the Corps to advance pipeline construction.
The Cheyenne River Sioux today asked a federal judge to stop the Lake Oahe work while a lawsuit filed earlier by the two tribes against the pipeline proceeds. Attorney Nicole Ducheneaux said in court documents that the pipeline “will desecrate the waters upon which Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members rely.”
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ETP didn’t immediately respond in court to the filing. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg didn’t immediately rule. Standing Rock Sioux attorney Jan Hasselman has said that tribe will also try to block the lake crossing in court.
An encampment near the construction site has drawn thousands of protesters since April in support of the Standing Rock Sioux, leading on occasions to clashes with law enforcement and hundreds of arrests.
Granado said she was not aware of any incidents involving pipeline opponents in the area. The Morton County Sheriff’s Office also said it had not responded to any incidents.
Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault said in a statement late Wednesday that the tribe is prepared to keep up the battle “in the courts.”
“We will continue to fight against an administration that seeks to dismiss not only our treaty rights and status as sovereign nations, but the safe drinking water of millions of Americans,” the chairman said.
The tribe fears a leak in the pipeline could contaminate drinking water at its reservation that is just downstream from the proposed Missouri River crossing. ETP says the pipeline will be safe.
In a statement Wednesday, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum urged “cooperation and restraint” from all parties and requested federal law enforcement assistance to keep the peace during construction that would transport North Dakota oil across four states to a shipping point in Illinois.
Protesters rallied in several cities across the country Wednesday. Demonstrators in Chicago targeted a bank. Others went to an Army Corps of Engineers office in New York City but were asked to leave when they started filming without a permit. Several people were arrested for blocking public access to a federal building in San Francisco.
Joye Braun and Payu Harris, two pipeline opponents who have been at the North Dakota encampment that’s been the focus of the pipeline battle since April, said in an interview at a nearby casino that there’s frustration but also resolve in the wake of the Army’s decision.
“The goal is still prayerful, nonviolent direct action,” Braun said.
The tribe maintains the decision violates its treaty rights, and its attorneys have vowed to keep fighting in court.
The Corps has notified protesters still at the encampment that the government-owned land will be closed Feb. 22. But according to Harris, a new camp is being established on private land.
“This is not over. We are here to stay. And there’s more of us coming,” he said.
An assessment conducted last year determined the river crossing would not have a significant effect on the environment. However, the Army in December decided further study was warranted to address tribal concerns.
The Corps launched an environmental impact study on Jan. 18, but Trump signed an executive action six days later telling the Corps to allow the company to proceed with construction.
7 responses to “Tribe files legal challenge to stall Dakota Access pipeline”
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George Soros money at work.
Big oil is powerful. Public Radio reported that the Standing Rock Tribs has asked other native Americans to leave and that includes Hawaiians who were asked to leave the area. The Sioux do not need to have Hawaiians showboating at their expense. White environmental activists were also shown the door and feel very hurt that their efforts were ignored. The Sioux want to deal with this matter on their own. Hawaiians, who are not native Americans and are not indigenous even in Hawaii (they invaded trhe islands hundreds of years ago and butchered or enslaved the Marquesans already here) are especially disliked for their arrogance. This was all reported on Hawaii Public Radio which often scoops the lazy local media.
I am unclear. Does an executive order “trump”/supercede federal law, in this case NEPA? If the Army Corps can just be told by higher authority to issue permits, why do we have a permit process in the first place? The process becomes a sort of oxymoron. The implication of what appears to be a sort of dictatorial mode of governmental administration is that no permits are needed for anything, there is no need to regulate building construction in the name of public heath and safety, the supreme leader can just issue an “executive order”. Or, why worry about “clean water”? Just issue an executive order to allow release of coal mine wastes into rivers and streams. Or, the heck with air quality laws, just issue an executive order to burn coal like crazy. Or just issue an executive order to dump the ACA and let those black lung victims of irresponsible coal mining companies wither away without medical help….why should the rest of us pay for them anyway? Pre-existing condition? Issue an executive order and let the suffering begin.
IRT KukuiNunu, the EPA, Corps, etc all approved the Pipeline years ago, therefore the E.O. is in support of the agencies to complete the pipeline. Same-same the Keystone XL pipeline. Executive Orders must not replace or make new laws for it’s the responsibility of the Congress. Executive Orders are to make approved laws move efficiently.
Nt the most safe looking construction. What happens when the make-shift riser breaks apart and the pipe falls?
This is by FAR the safest way to transport oil! Verses transporting “Over Land” via Trucking and Trains,which is more susceptible to mishaps. If this was their land they would have every right to protest! It’s NOT! Further more if the “Trespass” OR OBSTRUCT the construction,like Mauna Kea? Let’s enforce the LAW!
Besides why are these people protesting? Oh Forgot,it’s about the water and being built on sacred land.
If the contractors have safe guard contingencies in place, and it provides much needed JOBS at the same time ? Why not? Why you say?
Because the last time I checked? Protesting doesn’t put food on the table,doesn’t pay the mortgage, pay the bills or put gas(Oil) in the Car.IMUA!
There is an existing gas pipeline crossing the exact same area already. This is just an effort to obstruct construction and development. Former President Obama overruled the Corps of Engineers and forced another environmental review, while President Trump just eliminated the requirement for another environmental review.