Oil Company Openly States They Will Defy Army Corps Order in
Standing Rock
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/pipeline-defy-army-corps-order-standing-roc
k/
Free Thought Project - 12/05/2016
Omaha District - Northwestern Division
Balking at an earlier decision by the Army Corps of Engineers, Energy
Transfer Partners - the company responsible for constructing the Dakota
Access Pipeline - says the denial of an easement necessary to drill under
the Missouri River is of no consequence for its plans to complete the
project.
According to a statement from Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics,
which is acquiring ETP in a merger:
"As stated all along, ETP and SXL are fully committed to ensuring that this
vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete
construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around
Lake Oahe. Nothing this Administration has done today changes that in any
way."
In short, ETP will complete the Dakota Access Pipeline - no matter what the
federal government says.
Earlier on Sunday, celebrations erupted over the Army Corps' announcement
the permitting necessary for the Dakota Access Pipeline to pass beneath the
Missouri River's Lake Oahe reservoir would not be granted - a decision some
perceived would have direct implications for the future of the project.
Leery of such official decisions after a string of disappointments, however,
many water protectors immediately questioned whether ETP CEO Kelcy Warren
had contingency plans to ensure completion of the pipeline. Considering the
lengths ETP has undertaken with the Dakota Access Pipeline - even justifying
abhorrently brutal policing against unarmed protectors - news the project
will proceed unhindered hardly came as a shock. ETP states:
"In spite of consistently stating at every turn that the permit for the
crossing of the Missouri River at Lake Oahe granted in July 2016, comported
with all legal requirements, including the use of an environmental
assessment, rather than an environmental impact statement, the Army Corps
now seeks to engage in additional review and analysis of alternative
locations for the pipeline.
"The White House's directive today to the Corps for further delay is just
the latest in a series of overt and transparent political actions by an
administration which has abandoned the rule of law in favor of currying
favor with a narrow and extreme political constituency."
Technically speaking, ETP did perhaps follow the letter of the law - and
that fact both doesn't sit well with Indigenous water protectors who see the
U.S. government once again acting to exploit Native peoples on land never
officially ceded, but usurped, in the breaking of several treaties.
Indeed, to attain the desired path for Dakota Access, Energy Transfer
Partners was able to take land from reluctant private property owners
through eminent domain. Most controversy over the pipeline centers on the
contextually-striking fight by Native Americans to preserve the integrity of
their drinking water supply in North Dakota - but the fight to halt Dakota
Access also grips South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois.
Unconfirmed reports claim ETP has opted to pay $50,000 per day in fines for
violating the Army Corps decision rather than sidelining the project for
months while awaiting conclusions of an environmental impact statement.
Politicians were quick to denounce the decision to deny the easement, and -
like Energy Transfer Partners - deemed the choice starkly political. North
Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer excoriated the Army Corps' announcement,
asserting,
"I hoped even a lawless president wouldn't continue to ignore the rule of
law. However, it was becoming increasingly clear he was punting this issue
down the road. Today's unfortunate decision sends a very chilling signal to
others who want to build infrastructure in this country. Roads, bridges,
transmission lines, pipelines, wind farms and water lines will be very
difficult, if not impossible, to build when criminal behavior is rewarded
this way. In my conversation with Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen
Darcy today, she was unable to give any legal reasons for the decision and
could not answer any questions about rerouting the pipeline. I'm encouraged
we will restore law and order next month when we get a President who will
not thumb his nose at the rule of law. I feel badly for the Corps of
Engineers because of the diligent work it did on this project, only to have
their Commander-in-Chief throw them under the bus. But he's been doing that
to the military for eight years, so why not one more time on his way out the
door."
Others quickly joined the tirade.
"It's long past time that a decision is made on the easement going under
Lake Oahe. This administration's delay in taking action - after I've pushed
the White House, Army Corps, and other federal agencies for months to make a
decision - means that today's move doesn't actually bring finality to the
project. The pipeline still remains in limbo. The incoming administration
already stated its support for the project and the courts have already
stated twice that it appeared the Corps followed the required process in
considering the permit," said Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND) in a statement.
"For the next month and a half, nothing about this project will change. For
the immediate future, the safety of residents, protesters, law enforcement,
and workers remains my top priority as it should for everyone involved. As
some of the protesters have become increasingly violent and unlawful, and as
North Dakota's winter has already arrived - with a blizzard raging last week
through the area where protesters are located - I'm hoping now that
protesters will act responsibly to avoid endangering their health and
safety, and move off of the Corps land north of the Cannonball River."
Heitkamp, incidentally, met with President-Elect Donald Trump last week, to
the delight of Morton County Commission Chairman Cody Schulz, who noted:
"I sincerely hope Senator Heitkamp is able to make a direct plea to the new
Administration for the help and resources from the federal government that
are desperately needed to assist local law enforcement in their efforts to
provide public safety, and to expedite a decision on the final easement for
the Dakota Access pipeline so that our citizens may return to their normal
lives. We have seen nothing but foot-dragging and unhelpful directives from
the Obama administration. I trust Senator Heitkamp will use her meeting and
her influence to ensure that help is on the way for the people of North
Dakota when the President-Elect is sworn in on January 20th."
Questions also swirled concerning the nine-state, multiple agency coalition
of law enforcement led by the Morton County Sheriff's Department, which has
aggressively and barbarously policed the unarmed water protectors for
months, and if taxpayer funding could possibly be justified if ETP violates
the easement decision.
Standing Rock water protectors still reeling from Sunday's fleeting victory
against the pipeline now ironically face their own decisions about an
eviction notice from the Army Corps of Engineers and must choose whether or
not to vacate several camps north of the Cannonball River. Reports from the
camps say although a few people have indeed vacated the area, thousands more
have arrived to support the Standing Rock Sioux in just the past few days -
including more than 5,000 veterans.
With water protectors vowing to stay camped at Standing Rock until the
Dakota Access Pipeline is halted for good, and Energy Transfer Partners
openly dismissing the Army Corps of Engineers decision, a confluence of
polemic circumstances has crafted a powder keg near the Missouri River.
Standing Rock
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/pipeline-defy-army-corps-order-standing-roc
k/
Free Thought Project - 12/05/2016
Omaha District - Northwestern Division
Balking at an earlier decision by the Army Corps of Engineers, Energy
Transfer Partners - the company responsible for constructing the Dakota
Access Pipeline - says the denial of an easement necessary to drill under
the Missouri River is of no consequence for its plans to complete the
project.
According to a statement from Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics,
which is acquiring ETP in a merger:
"As stated all along, ETP and SXL are fully committed to ensuring that this
vital project is brought to completion and fully expect to complete
construction of the pipeline without any additional rerouting in and around
Lake Oahe. Nothing this Administration has done today changes that in any
way."
In short, ETP will complete the Dakota Access Pipeline - no matter what the
federal government says.
Earlier on Sunday, celebrations erupted over the Army Corps' announcement
the permitting necessary for the Dakota Access Pipeline to pass beneath the
Missouri River's Lake Oahe reservoir would not be granted - a decision some
perceived would have direct implications for the future of the project.
Leery of such official decisions after a string of disappointments, however,
many water protectors immediately questioned whether ETP CEO Kelcy Warren
had contingency plans to ensure completion of the pipeline. Considering the
lengths ETP has undertaken with the Dakota Access Pipeline - even justifying
abhorrently brutal policing against unarmed protectors - news the project
will proceed unhindered hardly came as a shock. ETP states:
"In spite of consistently stating at every turn that the permit for the
crossing of the Missouri River at Lake Oahe granted in July 2016, comported
with all legal requirements, including the use of an environmental
assessment, rather than an environmental impact statement, the Army Corps
now seeks to engage in additional review and analysis of alternative
locations for the pipeline.
"The White House's directive today to the Corps for further delay is just
the latest in a series of overt and transparent political actions by an
administration which has abandoned the rule of law in favor of currying
favor with a narrow and extreme political constituency."
Technically speaking, ETP did perhaps follow the letter of the law - and
that fact both doesn't sit well with Indigenous water protectors who see the
U.S. government once again acting to exploit Native peoples on land never
officially ceded, but usurped, in the breaking of several treaties.
Indeed, to attain the desired path for Dakota Access, Energy Transfer
Partners was able to take land from reluctant private property owners
through eminent domain. Most controversy over the pipeline centers on the
contextually-striking fight by Native Americans to preserve the integrity of
their drinking water supply in North Dakota - but the fight to halt Dakota
Access also grips South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois.
Unconfirmed reports claim ETP has opted to pay $50,000 per day in fines for
violating the Army Corps decision rather than sidelining the project for
months while awaiting conclusions of an environmental impact statement.
Politicians were quick to denounce the decision to deny the easement, and -
like Energy Transfer Partners - deemed the choice starkly political. North
Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer excoriated the Army Corps' announcement,
asserting,
"I hoped even a lawless president wouldn't continue to ignore the rule of
law. However, it was becoming increasingly clear he was punting this issue
down the road. Today's unfortunate decision sends a very chilling signal to
others who want to build infrastructure in this country. Roads, bridges,
transmission lines, pipelines, wind farms and water lines will be very
difficult, if not impossible, to build when criminal behavior is rewarded
this way. In my conversation with Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen
Darcy today, she was unable to give any legal reasons for the decision and
could not answer any questions about rerouting the pipeline. I'm encouraged
we will restore law and order next month when we get a President who will
not thumb his nose at the rule of law. I feel badly for the Corps of
Engineers because of the diligent work it did on this project, only to have
their Commander-in-Chief throw them under the bus. But he's been doing that
to the military for eight years, so why not one more time on his way out the
door."
Others quickly joined the tirade.
"It's long past time that a decision is made on the easement going under
Lake Oahe. This administration's delay in taking action - after I've pushed
the White House, Army Corps, and other federal agencies for months to make a
decision - means that today's move doesn't actually bring finality to the
project. The pipeline still remains in limbo. The incoming administration
already stated its support for the project and the courts have already
stated twice that it appeared the Corps followed the required process in
considering the permit," said Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND) in a statement.
"For the next month and a half, nothing about this project will change. For
the immediate future, the safety of residents, protesters, law enforcement,
and workers remains my top priority as it should for everyone involved. As
some of the protesters have become increasingly violent and unlawful, and as
North Dakota's winter has already arrived - with a blizzard raging last week
through the area where protesters are located - I'm hoping now that
protesters will act responsibly to avoid endangering their health and
safety, and move off of the Corps land north of the Cannonball River."
Heitkamp, incidentally, met with President-Elect Donald Trump last week, to
the delight of Morton County Commission Chairman Cody Schulz, who noted:
"I sincerely hope Senator Heitkamp is able to make a direct plea to the new
Administration for the help and resources from the federal government that
are desperately needed to assist local law enforcement in their efforts to
provide public safety, and to expedite a decision on the final easement for
the Dakota Access pipeline so that our citizens may return to their normal
lives. We have seen nothing but foot-dragging and unhelpful directives from
the Obama administration. I trust Senator Heitkamp will use her meeting and
her influence to ensure that help is on the way for the people of North
Dakota when the President-Elect is sworn in on January 20th."
Questions also swirled concerning the nine-state, multiple agency coalition
of law enforcement led by the Morton County Sheriff's Department, which has
aggressively and barbarously policed the unarmed water protectors for
months, and if taxpayer funding could possibly be justified if ETP violates
the easement decision.
Standing Rock water protectors still reeling from Sunday's fleeting victory
against the pipeline now ironically face their own decisions about an
eviction notice from the Army Corps of Engineers and must choose whether or
not to vacate several camps north of the Cannonball River. Reports from the
camps say although a few people have indeed vacated the area, thousands more
have arrived to support the Standing Rock Sioux in just the past few days -
including more than 5,000 veterans.
With water protectors vowing to stay camped at Standing Rock until the
Dakota Access Pipeline is halted for good, and Energy Transfer Partners
openly dismissing the Army Corps of Engineers decision, a confluence of
polemic circumstances has crafted a powder keg near the Missouri River.
![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
