In July 2016, the Army Corps of Engineers determined that the Dakota Access Pipeline presented no significant environmental risks and could go forward as planned by its developers. However, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe whose lands the pipeline would cross, as well as other indigenous groups, and allies including scientists, have urged the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider this judgment. Perhaps due to this pressure, the Army Corps of Engineers has since delayed the easement, to the resistance of Energy Transfers Partners (ETP), who say they will build anyway, even without the permit (Heavey). While this struggle over legal rights as well as economic, environmental, and health concerns continues, we should understand why the Army Corps …show more content…
Moreover, regulators cannot afford to prevent these leaks, as they are underfunded (Becker, 2016; Groeger, 2012). In other words, leaks from DAPL are extremely likely.
This lack of regulatory funding not only increases the chances that leaks will happen as, for example, pipelines degrade over time, but it also puts the burden on companies to self-regulate, thus leading to underreporting or not reporting incidents (Becker, 2016; Groeger, 2012). This lack of reporting might increase the chances that people consume oil-polluted water following a spill or leak, possibly endangering public health-- though these health impacts often go unmeasured according to Dara O’Rourke and Sara Connolly (2003, p. 601). Furthermore, while companies stay silent to avoid being fined or penalized, any other environmental degradation might continue as well. This situation is not simply predictable; it has happened, as recently as 2013 in North Dakota when Tesoro “spilled more than 20,000 barrels of crude oil in a wheat field in Tioga” (Becker, p. 21) and went undetected over eleven days (Bell, 2014, p. 14). Dara O’Rourke and Sara Connolly point out that in part because pipelines are “highly prone to corrosion” (2003, p. 601), these undetected leaks and small spills are common and cumulative (p. 598). Note that this funding problem, which weakens enforcement of reporting requirements, is likely to worsen with this next
One of these is that this pipeline will be among the largest in America. Yet the oil that flows through it will not be used in the US, but sent to Asia to compete with our own exports. The next is the accident rate in North Dakota is extremely high. There have been massive leaks, and spills all throughout the state, yet the companies are in bed with the politicians, and end up pay fractions of what they should. The most disturbing is that OSHA only has 9 inspectors between North and South Dakota. This lack of supervision and accountability contribute helps to one death once every six weeks. Since the big oil companies use subcontractors they cannot easily be sued for injuries, or deaths. As usual legalized corruption has a massive effect on policy, and regulation. The politicians turn a blind eye, while everyone else is
In this article, author James McPherson discusses the key players in the Dakota Access Pipeline. He outlines not only outlines the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and the pipeline company, Energy Transfer Partners, but also the Governor of North Dakota, the Tribal Chairman,
With an increasing global population and ever industrializing society 's, environmental concern is rarely given priority over economic incentive. But what people fail to realize is that our environmental failures, and relative apathy about it set up a plethora of problems for future generations to deal with. One of the most important decisions president Obama will face in the next year will be whether or not to approve the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, a massively sized, and massively controversial oil pipeline that would stretch all the way from Alberta Canada, to American oil refineries along the Gulf Of Mexico. Despite the economic incentive present, the building of the Keystone XL pipeline should not happen because of the
As professor Ferguson related “Six months ago the Dakota Access Pipeline was provided a permit for the construction to begin. For six months or so there has been development of this pipeline. Now, enter the Standing Rock Sioux, which are one of the Sioux nations, a sovereign indigenous tribe who has historically experienced loss of land and tree rights and been prevalent in this area. Many of them have been pushed into these certain areas called reservations were the last remnants of land were provided, this history is important. The broken promise of the government and other parties that promised that things would be okay has been long standing.” For the standing Rock Sioux they see the pipeline going through the Missouri River as creating problems with water access for the tribe, change in the water environment and a threat to their access to water quality. Secondly, the pipeline itself is also going to upset and encroach upon Native American burial sights and artifact sights that have existed for years untouched until there was a change in the interest regarding oil. This pipeline has threatened these rights for the Standing Rock Sioux. As a Sovereign Nation, they see this change fueled by national and corporate interest as a direct threat to their nationhood because access to water is key to survival. Professor Ferguson also emphasized that “There is also a larger story, and it comes from the call for all for the great Sioux Nation and all indigenous people to come and gather in protest against the pipeline. These protest then have larger meaning because they address the threat to indigenous people around the world and not just in the united states” because often times the narrative of losses for indigenous people around the world are a very similar
The North Dakota Access Pipeline will span from the Bakken, North Dakota to southern Illinois. The Standing Rock Sioux reservation opposes the pipeline because they believe that it goes through sacred land. The Sioux tribe also opposes the pipeline because it will cross the Missouri River twice, which is the reservations main water source. They believe that the pipeline may contaminate the Missouri River, but the pipeline company claims that the pipeline is the safest method to transfer the oil. I believe that this is a tough topic to form an opinion on, but I will hopefully explain my stance on this issue throughout this essay.
The area known as the Standing Rock Indian Reservation located in North Dakota and along the Missouri River, has been targeted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other governmental entities, to construct a 1,172-mile-long pipe, right through the area’s clean water and ancient burial grounds. The United States Government is in favor of the project for its economic benefit, while the Indian American tribes of Standing Rock are against the project due to the harmful implications that this pipe brings to their wellbeing and their heritage. With the news that this pipe was originally headed towards Bismarck North Dakota, (90% white population) and then re-routed towards Native lands, the question can be brought up: why was the pipe rerouted?
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 native americans and other DAPL (Dakota Access Pipeline) opposers are filled with determination, distress, passion, and such resentment towards the pipeline project because it would run under and through ground that their ancestors knew as sacred and those beliefs are still very alive to this day. The pipeline is a 1,172 mile underground oil pipeline that will aid transporting oil through all 50 states in the USA; it was projected to go through sacred lands, reservations, and rivers. There are multifarious issues and concerns pertaining to project but some of the preeminent concerns are; historic preservation and sacred grounds becoming significantly damaged and irreparable, climate change and how it would just increase the production of CO2, and potential pipeline fractures and spills that would mutilate the crucial nearby farms and threaten contaminate for the water supply of thousands of people who depend on it.
land grabs by Big Oil is being shed due to the DAPL, this is not an isolated incident. Big oil companies such as Kinder Morgan use eminent domain to sue landowners who refuse to leave their land.
The Energy Transfer Partners wants to install the Dakota Pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, but the Sioux tribe is fighting to stop the installation of the pipeline to preserve their culture and assert their right to the property. The Dakota Pipeline is an oil pipeline that would transport oil from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa into Illinois. The Dakota Pipeline should not be installed because it disrespects the Native Americans’ culture and discriminates against The Sioux, a minority within the United States. The unjust treatment of Native Americans is due to the government’s disregard for Native American property rights and the government’s belief that they can simply take Native American property away because they are
A new rising issue is the North Dakota Access Pipeline v. Native American tribe, Standing Rock. The main reason for the pipeline is to transport crude oil through four states more safely than the current way of transporting it through 750 railroad cars daily. In the same fashion, the pipeline will convert the 750 carts to 470,000 barrels of crude oil traveling 1,172 miles a day. Under those circumstances, the line will start in Montana, traveling through North Dakota reaching Canada, then heading southeast to South Dakota and finishing up in Illinois. On the positive side, it will make 374.3 million gallons per day, resulting in giving America an economic boom. The pipeline project is predicted to be a $3.7 billion investment and producing
The Dakota pipeline potentially risks destroying countless miles of land and water, since it will be built underneath
Southwestern Energy Production Company, Pennsylvania Superior Court opened the doors to trespass laws against fracking and natural gas companies. Southwestern Energy Production Company put wells in the land adjacent to the Briggs siblings’ land but when the wells were placed in the ground they were going into the Briggs’ property. The company has allegedly been extracting natural gas from the Briggs’ property since 2011 without their permission. The result of the case was that now the law is that Pennsylvanian law of fracking will not apply to capturing of natural gas from fissures that flow towards unpaid areas--making it illegal to do so (Morgan-Besecker, 2018). As well, the Colorado Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of six teenager environmental activisits. In the case, the court ruled in favor of making public health and environment the antecedence instead of creating an harmony between natural gas and environmentalism because they determined that this would not be effective (Paraskova, 2018). Lastly, Dakota Access Pipeline is one more instance of where environmentalism has gone against the big natural gas companies. The Dakota Access Pipeline is controversial due to its impact on the environment and has been protested heavily by Native American people such as the Sioux and Meskwaki people. Natural gas companies have been running constant television advertisement to sway people to support them however it is not working. Natural gas companies see the resistance, which despite the support of the current U.S. president, and continue to push against environmentalists and NODAPL supporters (Hand,
When offered financial compensation for land used for the pipeline, tribal leaders refused outright. If an agreement is going to be made that satisfies both parties, each will have find the middle ground in certain areas. After the initial Environmental Impact Statement, Energy Transfer Partners agreed to lower the depth that the pipeline runs under Lake Oahe to double the originally planned depth. If Energy Transfer Partners are willing to make changes to their plans, then the Sioux should also. It is understandable that the Sioux refused, as they see the land as their own and do not think that they should be required to make exceptions for corporations to build on it. However, one must acknowledge the realities of the world we live in today and accept that certain projects are going to continue whether the tribe like it or not, so they might as well attempt to get the best deal that they