Dakota Access Pipeline

Dakota Access Pipeline. The Dakota Access Pipeline is a major oil pipeline project that has been the subject of controversy and opposition from various groups, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Sioux Nation, and Environmental Protection Agency. The pipeline project was proposed by Energy Transfer Partners, a company led by Kelcy Warren, and was supported by Donald Trump, who signed a Presidential memorandum to advance the project. The pipeline's construction was also backed by North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple and Senator John Hoeven.

Background

The Dakota Access Pipeline project was first proposed in 2014 by Energy Transfer Partners, with the goal of transporting crude oil from the Bakken formation in North Dakota to a terminal in Patoka, Illinois. The project was expected to cost around $3.8 billion and would create thousands of jobs, according to Laborers' International Union of North America and International Union of Operating Engineers. The pipeline would also increase the production of oil in the United States, reducing the country's reliance on foreign oil imports, as stated by American Petroleum Institute and U.S. Energy Information Administration. The project was supported by Republican Party (United States) leaders, including Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Route and Construction

The Dakota Access Pipeline spans over 1,172 miles, passing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. The pipeline's route takes it through several sensitive ecosystems, including the Missouri River and Lake Oahe, which are considered sacred by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The construction of the pipeline was carried out by Energy Transfer Partners and its subsidiaries, including Sunoco Logistics and Dakota Access LLC. The project employed thousands of workers, including members of the Laborers' International Union of North America and International Union of Operating Engineers, who worked under the supervision of Bechtel Group and Quanta Services.

Opposition and Controversy

The Dakota Access Pipeline project has been met with fierce opposition from various groups, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Sioux Nation, and Environmental Protection Agency. The opposition is led by Chairman Dave Archambault II of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who has argued that the pipeline poses a significant threat to the tribe's water supply and cultural heritage, as stated by National Congress of American Indians and Native American Rights Fund. The opposition has been supported by various environmental organizations, including Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and 350.org, as well as celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. The protests against the pipeline have been marked by clashes between protesters and law enforcement, including the North Dakota Highway Patrol and Morton County Sheriff's Department, with support from Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Environmental Impact

The Dakota Access Pipeline has been criticized for its potential environmental impact, including the risk of oil spills and contamination of the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. The pipeline's construction has also been linked to the destruction of sacred sites and cultural artifacts, including those of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The Environmental Protection Agency has expressed concerns about the pipeline's impact on the environment, as have other federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pipeline's construction has also been opposed by scientists and experts, including Dr. James Hansen and Dr. Michael Mann, who have warned about the dangers of climate change and the need to transition to renewable energy sources, as stated by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Legal Challenges

The Dakota Access Pipeline project has been the subject of several legal challenges, including a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Energy Transfer Partners. The lawsuit argues that the pipeline's construction violates the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act, as well as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, which guarantees the Sioux Nation's rights to the land. The legal challenges have been supported by various civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, as well as lawmakers such as Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The case has been heard by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, with Judge James Boasberg and Judge Thomas Griffith presiding over the case.

Category:Oil pipelines in the United States