The Dakota Access Pipeline has been a topic of discussion for the past few months. While there has not been a lot of extensive coverage surrounding the pipeline there have been a lot of news surrounding it this week.
The Dakota Access Pipeline aimed to expand through the North Dakota along the Missouri River within 20 miles of Lake Oahe. This raised concerns for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, whose water supply would be affected should the pipeline leak. At the beginning of the week, we heard that their permit had been denied by both the U.S. Army. The Army instructed the Energy Transfer Partners to seek alternative routes to build the pipeline, and conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); a standard procedure which had not been done already.
The DAPL aimed to add a 1,172-mile pipeline to connect the rapidly expanding Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. The pipeline would 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day to markets around the country. The pipeline claims to produce domestic light crude oil and distributed to major markets while reducing costs and increasing safety and environmental protection.
Since April, protesters from various Native American tribes; who called themselves water protectors", began speaking up about the DAPL to prevent the contamination of the local water supply and destruction of sacred sites. This captured the attention of environmental activists and recently military veterans who joined the "spiritual camps" near the drilling site along the Missouri river. Protesters have been subject to tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, and harsh weathers in the last few months in an effort to remove them from the grounds.
However despite these efforts, many fear the victory is a trick or will easily be reversed. The Energy Transfer Partners can sue to have the Army's recent decision overturned when the presidential administration changes in January. There have even been accounts of the partners planning to continue construction without rerouting. In addition, industry groups with interest in the pipeline remain hopeful that this decision is not the final answer. The Energy Transfer Partners have filed with a federal judge to begin drilling immediately. They accused the Army of buckling under political pressure in their denial of the permit.
As a result, the water protectors have remained in their camps to keep an eye on the pipeline. This is against the advisement of the tribe's chairperson; Dave Archambault, who encouraged people to return to their homes while decisions are made in court. There is still hope that - should this decision be overturned - construction will be so delayed there will be very little to salvage when construction does begin again.
This small victory at Standing Rock has come during a time when many people have begun to lose hope. Small victories like these have shown how activism can positively contribute to a narrative. The activism that took place on Standing Rock has shown that a community can use it's voice to enact change despite the odds against them.
