Case Study: Should The Dakota Access Pipeline

One of the most notable points of concern regarding the Dakota pipeline occurred this past year on October 27th, when authorities forcibly and violently removed Standing Rock water protectors with the use of tasers, pepper spray, sound cannons, concussion grenades and rubber bullets. This is one of the most recent, horrifying incidents occurring to Native peoples, reminding them of the reality of white supremacy and the extent to which racism still exists in the United States. The lack of media coverage of this event goes even further to show the scale that which Native problems are not a concern to the press and American people.

Since 2010, there have been “more than 3,000 incidents of leaks and ruptures at oil and gas pipelines” according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (Worland). The Dakota Access Pipeline has sparked controversy between the U.S. Army of Engineers and Native Americans. With threats of damaging their water supply, cultural land, and impeding a treaty made in 1851, had Native Americans protesting by resisting removal. The threatening impact on Native Americans deemed unconsidered and unheard of by government when they originally planned to build the pipeline through the area. And despite a severe winter storm bringing freezing conditions, protesting Natives remained (Maher and Connors). But why did it have to come to desperate measures that endanger one’s personal safety, just to gain the attention of the government? Native American sovereignty has been repeatedly impeded on, forcing them to take matters into their own hands. Concerning the decision prior to construction, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe claims the federal agency did not appropriately consult them prior to construction (Merrit). Recently, Army Corps have halted the passage of the Dakota Access Pipeline due to their outcry. But if the government had just considered the vote of Native Americans in the first place, the decision could have satisfied everyone who at least got a say

Protests continue to grow as the weeks continue to get long for the decision whether or not the pipeline with be repositioned. One of the most talked about controversies talked about in the last 3 months sadly is not over yet, but is hoping to be done in future weeks to come. The Standing Rock Sioux Indian tribe and Energy transfer Partners are hoping the government will see it their way. Both sides have valid reason for why they want it to continue or not to continue ,but it is up to the government as they will have the final say in the finishing of the

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a problem for the natives, but obviously not for us Americans. Energy transfer quote that “Some protesters stayed overnight what looked like dog kennels and were let out in the morning”. This is why we need to stop the construction of this pipeline because it could leak and contaminate the water, the pipeline would be going through sacred grounds, and we need to stop the violence against the native protesters.

Pipeliners continue to trespass onto sacred lands and violate landowners’ rights. Many of these lands belong amongst the tribe which means approval of the pipeline would be the

All the dakota access pipeline is doing is taking up sacred land of the Natives,how would you feel if someone graffitied the white house it's practically the same as building this pipeline on their land. The police have to use plastic bullets to stop this protest from going on. But all they continue to do is throw smoke bombs into the protesters crowd. There has been more than 15 injuries and almost one death. We should stop this riot and stop building this pipeline.

The construction of this pipeline has raised a lot of controversy regarding its necessity, but also in the potential impact on the environment. On the list of controversies, it is facing the established route for the pipeline because it runs half-mile near of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, crossing beneath the Missouri River. The concern is the huge impact this would cause if the pipeline breaks near to the river spilling the crude oil into the river contaminating the drinking water. The other concern is that as this pipe passes very close to the Indian reservation, it also disturbs sacred land. In addition to all this, there is the controversy of the use of eminent domain by the government, to get the land for the construction of the pipeline.

But, according to Yan (2016) the pipeline can have either a great economic benefit for the United States or it can cause an environmental disaster. The pipeline also is going to run through sacred Native American land and water source (Jensen 2016). This brings in protestors that range from humanist, Native Americans, environmentalist, state residents and even Hollywood celebrities (Yan 2016). According to Jensen (2016), these peaceful protestors are being treated harshly by law enforcement, which makes the pipeline even more controversial. The police are trying to run out the protestors by “using freezing water and concussion grenades” during winter conditions to get them to leave Cannon Ball, ND (Jensen 2016). Law enforcement doesn’t want the area to “swell” with protestors again when it comes spring (Reuters 2017). These protestors just want to be heard, which they were in Obama’s administration, but Trump’s administration wants to continue construction with or without the support of the community. This could be due to Trump’s investment and profit in the pipeline (Mufson 2016). On the another hand, the pipeline can help the economy by making the United States more independent on oil and reducing the use of trains. In some cases, trains that are carrying oil cargo has been derailed and exploding. This would also bring down cost for shipments with

Well two Saturdays ago the amount of protesters near the pipeline's construction grew into the thousands. The governor of North Dakota the state of emergency and barricaded the protest sites. This is only after a federal judge ruled that they would not hear the tribes requested to stop the construction. After that request of a state of emergency more and more protesters started arriving regardless of the barricades. Due to this, last Friday the federal government announced that there would be a pause in the construction of the pipeline and also considered, Nationwide reform on these kinds of infrastructure projects. Although this causes temporary and may resume and the construction may continue forward. But hopefully with my spread of information you can go out and protest yourself along with the Native American people. Just as long as you have enough money to go out

Understanding that America has made a treaty with the Natives, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Energy Transfer Partners Company must also remember the Natives have the right to their land and resources just as much as Americans have to theirs. There is a fine line between the two, and what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Energy Transfer Partners did was illegal and tactless. Our constitution and laws has been violated many times throughout the process of constructing this pipeline. They went through loopholes to get the permits without consulting with the Natives first. Many times the Americans have failed to take into account that Natives have a certain way they want to live. It is wrong how we oppressed them with our way of life, especially without

The Dakota Access Pipeline a controversy for many not just in North Dakota but around the U.S Should the construction continue, or due to extreme circumstances should it be halted immediately. This paper will go over all of the key facts about the Dakota Access Pipeline. How the pipeline is going to affect the environment, the production of oil and greenhouse gasses, the violence, and the fate for the U.S. if we violate sacred treaties.

Not only are Native Americans protesting the pipeline, they are protesting for environmental justice and clean water. Although they have been peaceful, the National Guard hasn’t been. They have been arresting elders in the tribe and tearing down tepees and sweat lodges. In the past, Native Americans standing up for their land has ended gruesomely with massacres, broken treaties and stolen land. It doesn’t have to end that way this time.

The pipeline was planned to run through Native American land but was halted in December by the Army Corps of Engineers. They denied the permits to build on land of the Sioux nation because “further analysis was needed.” This was likely done to again reroute or find a less dangerous alternative. A resolution would be concluded on in federal court this February, but due to Trump's executive orders it's been permitted. The Sioux Tribe never gave permission, as it threatens to contaminate their water supply. This isn’t an aberration since pipeline spills happen frequently, and indigenous peoples’ land claims are often disregarded. One can observe their violations of the law when trespassing, damage to private property and protesting, which isn’t illegal but can be intervened by the government if it causes public disruption. In this case, the protesters also encourage citizens to boycott companies invested in DAPL, such as Bank of America, J.P. Morgan and Wells Fargo. It’s important to question why the federal government would prioritize a private business over the environment and wellbeing of its citizens. These protestors, also known as “water guardians,” have been joined by veterans and environmentalists from all over the globe, forming solidarity and creating consciousness. These people are mostly unarmed and peaceful but continued to get attacked by police and private security forces through means of tear gas, rubber bullets and attack dogs. Freedom again, whether it is for clean water or land claims, is always a constant struggle. These protesters are breaking the law and sacrificing their livelihoods for clean water and environmental

Native Americans are being disrespected, harmed, and their homeland is being taken from them. Am I talking about events taken place centuries ago? No, because these unfortunate circumstances yet again are occurring right here, now, in the present. This horrid affair has a name: The Dakota Access Pipeline. This Pipeline is an oil transporting pipeline, which is funded by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, who have devised a plan for the pipeline to run through the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois. However, unfortunately, this pipeline will run straight through the reservation of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe, expressing their distress for the pipeline have said, that the pipeline will be “Destroying our burial sites, prayer sites, and culturally significant artifacts,” Arguments for the pipeline however have tried to counter this claim, trying to emphasize that “The pipeline wouldn 't just be an economic boon, it would also significantly decrease U.S. reliance on foreign oil”, and that the pipeline is estimated to produce “374.3 million gallons of gasoline per day.”, which could help the sinking oil economy. (Yan, 2016) However, despite the economical growth it could achieve, the Dakota Access Pipeline could have damaging environmental effects on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the areas surrounding.

For every spill of oil or gas, it damages that ecosystem sometimes beyond repair or it takes it many many years to recover from it. That being said the North Dakota Pipeline is going to be one of the safest most technologically advanced pipelines in the world. Another controversy is that the Native Americans are claiming that the pipeline runs through some of their sacred lands and can possibly contaminate their water supply. The North Dakota Pipeline can be a very successful oil transporter but there also seems to be some drawbacks like it possibly running through sacred land, contaminating water, and the possibility of leaking or exploding and causing a major disaster for the people and animals that live