After a long-fought battle, the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is to be completely halted. A US federal court has ruled that the construction must stop as it poses a threat to both the natural environment and to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe who inhabit the area that the pipeline was intended to pass through.
The pipeline has been at the centre of heated debate and protest over a number of years, with Native people leading from the front. The court judgement said that the US Army Corps of Engineers had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and ignored the dangers that could result from a pipeline, such as an oil spill. The pipeline was expected to directly cross the Sioux Nation's main water supply.
DAPL TO BE SHUT DOWN!
— Lakota Law Project (@lakotalaw) July 6, 2020
Congrats to @Earthjustice and @StandingRockST for this significant win. https://t.co/DfW6lnHPhU
The court order stated:
"Given the seriousness of the Corps' NEPA error, the impossibility of a simple fix, the fact that Dakota Access did assume much of its economic risk knowingly, and the potential harm each day the pipeline operates, the Court is forced to conclude that the flow of oil must cease. The Court does not reach its decision with blithe disregard for the lives it will affect. It readily acknowledges that, even with the currently low demand for oil, shutting down the pipeline will cause significant disruption to DAPL, the North Dakota oil industry, and potentially other states."
Today a federal judge shut down Dakota Access pipeline for 13 months. Joy and power to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation [and 300+ sovereign Indigenous nations in solidarity] who protested the 1172 miles of proposed $3.78b DAPL since 2014. Never yield that which is your human right. pic.twitter.com/5oTTv5u3t7
— Karishma Mehta for No Cops In Schools (@karish4va) July 6, 2020
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe attorney Jan Hasselman stated in a press release:
"It took four long years, but today justice has been served at Standing Rock. If the events of 2020 have taught us anything, it's that health and justice must be prioritized early on in any decision-making process if we want to avoid a crisis later on."
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— Fire Drill Fridays (@FireDrillFriday) July 6, 2020
┃┃╱╲ in
┃╱╱╲╲ this
╱╱╭╮╲╲house
▔▏┗┛▕▔ we
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cheer when fossil fuel
execs cry over lost profits
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▔▏┗┻┛┃┃┗┻┛▕▔ https://t.co/MTEKNHwCon
The legal ruling is a massive blow to US president, Donald Trump who has sought to decrease environmental legislation and support domestic fossil fuel production. Trump ally and North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer stated his frustration at the blocking of the pipeline saying:
"Shutting down the Dakota Access Pipeline would have devastating consequences to North Dakota and to America's energy security. This terrible ruling should be promptly appealed."
These thoughts were echoed by US Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette who told Fox Business Network:
"I'm not quite sure what they're cheering except for perhaps the loss of jobs all throughout America."
It now looks as though the US leadership will appeal the decision and therefore the fight of the Sioux people may not be over as of yet. This is however, a great victory in their quest for justice and the preservation of their lands.
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