Jump to content
  • Advertisement

A victory for Standing Rock reservation


Katniss

Recommended Posts

Quote

 

The US Army Corps of Engineers on Sunday announced they will no longer allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under a lake near the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota, marking a huge win for Native Americans and protesters who had long opposed the construction.

“Today, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline,” Standing Rock Sioux Tribal chairman Dave Archambault II said in a statement sent to BuzzFeed News. “Instead, the Corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternative routes.

“We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing.”

“It took tremendous courage to take a new approach to our nation-to-nation relationship, and we will be forever grateful,” he said.

Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy said she based her decision on a need to explore alternate pipeline routes.

“Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do,” Darcy said in a statement. “The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.”

Since August, thousands of demonstrators have camped at the Standing Rock site to stand with Native Americans in opposing the 1,172-mile long pipeline, which is designed to carry 20 million gallons of oil across the Midwest every day.

Tribe members and environmentalists feared damage to local water supplies and the desecration of sacred land.

They argued in court that the pipeline “crosses areas of great historical and cultural significance” and “crosses waters of utmost cultural, spiritual, ecological, and economic significance.”

The tribe successfully mobilized national support, with demonstrators marching in Washington DC and elsewhere to pressure the government to abandon the construction.

Sunday’s decision represents a huge win for the local tribe and their supporters, as well as a dramatic shift in the reaction of authorities, who had previously ordered all demonstrators to leave the campsite by Monday.

North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer, a Republican who supported the pipeline’s construction, said “today’s unfortunate decision sends a very chilling signal to others who want to build infrastructure in this country.”

“Roads, bridges, transmission lines, pipelines, wind farms, and water lines will be very difficult, if not impossible, to build when criminal behavior is rewarded this way” he said in a statement.

The state’s governor, Jack Dalrymple, also slammed the announcement as “a serious mistake.”

“It does nothing to resolve the issue, and worst of all it prolongs the serious problems faced by North Dakota law enforcement as they try to maintain public safety,” Gov. Dalrymple said in a statement. “The administration’s lack of action also prolongs the dangerous situation of having protesters camping during the winter on US Army Corps of Engineers’ property.”

“It’s unfortunate that this project has become a political issue rather than one based on engineering science,” he said.

But other lawmakers and officials praised the decision. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell tweeted that the decision “underscores that tribal rights are essential components to analysis of #DAPL going forward.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders also welcomed the announcement:

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Department of Justice officials would continue to monitor the protests.

“The department remains committed to supporting local law enforcement, defending protestors’ constitutional right to free speech and fostering thoughtful dialogue on the matter,” she said in a statement. “We recognize the strong feelings that exist in connection with this issue, but it is imperative that all parties express their views peacefully and join us in support of a deliberate and reasonable process for de-escalation and healing.”

At the Standing Rock reservation, Native Americans and protesters celebrated their victory.

“I’m just thankful that there were some leaders in the federal government who have realized that something is not right even though it’s legal,” Archambault told MSNBC.

“I would say that it’s over,” he said.

 

Source

This is great news, and I'm glad it's one of the last acts of the Obama administration. We must remember that the Native Americans were here first and we should respect their land.

 

Edited by Katniss
  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, Spongetron Robotpants said:

I still think a pipeline would be safer than carrying oil in trains but whatever. It's just my opinion.

Waste from the pipeline would most likely end up in the community's water supply, plus it's intruding on homeland that was given to the tribe as part of a treaty. I'm glad it wasn't built.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Spongetron Robotpants said:

I still think a pipeline would be safer than carrying oil in trains but whatever. It's just my opinion.

this is not the issue

it's where this pipeline is being placed that people are taking issue with because even though it's safer, the chance of leakage is still very much a thing

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw on the news about the powerful apology our veterans made towards the people protesting for Standing Rock.  Class personified and I'm glad that we are going to honor the Native American land.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest hilaryfan80
On 12/4/2016 at 8:06 PM, Spongetron Robotpants said:

I still think a pipeline would be safer than carrying oil in trains but whatever. It's just my opinion.

Actually, it's much safer in pipelines. We know this for sure. However, take a look at this graph of pipeline spills:

spill_map.png
Source: Center for Effective Government

They were right to protest. It's clearly obvious that pipeline spills happen often, and it did run under their water supply. I would say that this is a huge victory! I bet they're going to party this weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...