Just today, President Trump signed two orders to move forward with construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. Our work is not yet done. It’s time to get back to Standing Rock.
Many were aware this could happen because Trump campaigned on promises to increase domestic energy production. He even showed support, before his election, for the completion of the Dakota Access pipeline and revival of the Keystone XL project.
Needless to say, this is a huge setback for not only the environment, but the Native American tribes affected by the pipeline, and the water protectors who have been on the front lines for MONTHS.
In January, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they would start an environmental assessment but now it’s unclear if that will happen at all.
From the article:
“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe won a key victory when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in early December turned down Energy Transfer Partners’ request for an easement to tunnel under the nearby Missouri River.”
By the summer of 2016 the majority of the pipeline was completed minus a small section under Lake Oahe, the reservoir used for drinking water and the one potentially affected when the pipeline bursts. And we know it will, it happens all the time.
We will update you when we can and redirect our attention to Standing Rock.
Source: Reuters
