Army Blocks Drilling of Dakota Access Oil Pipeline

Native Americans and activists protesting the project have argued that the 1,885km Dakota Access Pipeline would damage sacred lands and could contaminate the tribe’s water source.

Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron says the “water protectors” deserve credit for bringing the Dakota Access pipeline route to a halt, but they must remain vigilant.

After more than eight months spent living near the pipeline’s construction barricades, the demonstrators were elated by what they perceived as a victory, but continue to winterize their camps in preparation for a longer stay.

Freshman Zachary Cling, who also is a veteran, said he was heartened to see so many other veterans join the protesters.

Republican North Dakotan politicians too have piled in, with Governor Jack Dalrymple calling the decision a “serious mistake”.

Energy Transfer Partners said in a statement the decision was politically motivated and it did not intend to reroute the line. The company is awaiting a decision from a federal judge it asked earlier to give it permission to drill under the lake. A decision is pending. The following statement was released by Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II. Soon after, more protesters gathered in North Dakota (and on Facebook) to support the plight of the disenfranchised Sioux tribe, who were determined to protect their land as well as the country’s water supply.

“Our voices were heard, you know they heard our voices”.

He’s has traveled to North Dakota twice. In November, some protesters were injured when police used water hoses to disperse groups of demonstrators in freezing weather.

North Dakota officials say law enforcement at the protest site has cost the state about $20 million.

The Oceti Sakowin camp is the overflow from smaller private and permitted protest sites nearby.

“That news got to Standing Rock, very very quick”, said Regina’s Chasity Delorme, who was returning to Canada from Standing Rock on Monday.

The pipeline’s owner, Energy Transfer Partners, first received construction permits in July.

In North Dakota, the Dakota Access route parallels the existing Northern Border Pipeline, which carries natural gas from Canada across the Dakotas to the Chicago area.

“I understand that they’re concerned, that it’s not over, they can’t trust the federal government” but “nothing’s going to happen this winter”, he told the Fargo, N.D., station.

The tribe hasn’t fared well in court.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller said the crude oil conduit is ‘something that we support construction of, and we’ll review the full situation once we’re in the White House and make an appropriate determination at that time’. An appeal is pending.

The 1,172-mile pipeline is complete except for the one-mile section that the owners, Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP), have been seeking to route beneath the Lake Oahe reservoir on the Missouri River.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the decision not to approve the easement came from the Army instead of the Corps of Engineers. Throughout history, various arms of the US government have shamefully dismissed the rights of tribes, usually siding with those seeking to make a profit. In an interview with NPR’s Steve Inskeep, Cramer said the current route is the preferred route.

Following Sunday’s announcement by the Army Corps, Energy Transfer Partners said that the decision was political, claiming the Obama administration was ready to do anything to delay the final decision until its term ends.