Far-reaching tribal solidarity displayed at pipeline protest

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said Wednesday he will make a decision on the issue by September 9.

A federal judge will rule before September 9 on whether construction can be halted on the pipeline, which will pass through Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Has the board even interviewed the people who are objecting to the Dakota Access Pipeline?

In an August 24 New York Times OP-ED, David Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, wrote that the proposed pipeline route “crosses the Missouri River, which provides drinking water for millions of Americans and irrigation water for thousands of acres of farming and ranching lands… we need the public to see that in standing up for our rights, we do so on behalf of the millions of Americans who will be affected by this pipeline”.

“The judge clearly understands the issues at stake”, said Jan Hasselman, an Earthjustice attorney.

Corps spokeswoman Eileen Williamson said she couldn’t comment on the lawsuit.

According to the environmental assessment of the pipeline project, performed by Dakota Access, LLC, “i$3 mpacts on the environment would be temporary and not significant”, and “n$3 o known cultural resources would be impacted by the proposed Project”.

The pipeline would cross the Missouri River less than a mile upstream of the reservation. “Divergent” actress Shailene Woodley was part of the protests last week, and actress Susan Sarandon was at Wednesday’s federal hearing.

“The things that have happened to tribal nations across this nation have been unjust and unfair, and this has come to a point where we can no longer pay the costs for this nation’s well-being”, Dave Archambault, chair of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, told Democracy Now last week. They did not return calls from Indian Country Today Media Network seeking comment. Dakota Access previously estimated the cost to move construction crews and equipment around the 15 parcels at more than $500,000 for each.

District Court Judge James Boasberg is expected to announce his decision on the preliminary injunction requested by the tribe no later than September 9.

Earlier this month in Iowa, construction equipment at several construction sites was set on fire, causing more than $1 million in damage.