The Dakota Access pipeline is set to be constructed near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, crossing under the Missouri River which is the only source of water to the reservation. The pipeline is planned to transport approximately 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The potential of oil leaks would contaminate the only source of water for the reservation. While Dakota Access claims oil leaks are unlikely, an oil leak from a separate pipeline in North Dakota was discovered (8/15/16) to have leaked over 500 barrels of oil since the leak began on July 19, 2016. You can read the article here: http://bit.ly/2aVm5cv. A leak like this from the Dakota Access pipeline would leave the Standing Rock Sioux without any clean water.
Response to Petition
An update for your petition on the Dakota Access pipeline:
Thank you for taking the time to sign this petition using the We the People platform.
On September 9, the Department of Justice, Department of the Army, and Department of the Interior issued a joint statement about ongoing litigation involving the Dakota Access pipeline. Among other things, the statement announced the following:
“The Army will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until it can determine whether it will need to reconsider any of its previous decisions regarding the Lake Oahe site under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or other federal laws. Therefore, construction of the pipeline on Army Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe will not go forward at this time. The Army will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved -- including the pipeline company and its workers -- deserves a clear and timely resolution.”
On October 10, the departments announced that:
“[t]he Army continues to review issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Tribal nations and their members and hopes to conclude its ongoing review soon.”
Consistent with the We the People Terms of Participation, we will not comment on that ongoing review being conducted by the Army.
You may be interested, however, in hearing about some of the broader work being undertaken by the departments on infrastructure-related issues affecting tribal nations.
Last month, the departments announced they were inviting:
“[R]epresentatives from all 567 federally recognized tribes to participate in formal, government-to-government consultations on how federal decision-making on infrastructure projects can better allow for timely and meaningful tribal input.”
This consultation, with sessions scheduled to take place at locations across the country during October and November, is focused on how the federal government can better ensure meaningful tribal input into infrastructure-related decisions and the protection of tribal lands, resources and treaty rights. The sessions also explore whether changes to the existing framework are needed to promote those goals. More information about this process can be found here.
We encourage you to continue to use the We the People platform to petition the Administration to take action on policy issues you care about.
Thank you again for making your voice heard.