Victory for Standing Rock Sioux: Dakota Access Pipeline to be Rerouted

Victory for Standing Rock Sioux: Dakota Access Pipeline to be Rerouted

© AP Photo/ David Goldman US 01:27 05.12.2016(updated 01:53 05.12.2016) Get short URL 442250 The US Army Corps of Engineers has denied the necessary easement for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline to build near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota, the tribe said, on the grounds that it could contaminate water supplies. "Today, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline," the December 4 statement by Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II said. "Instead, the corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternative routes." A woman watches the sunrise in Oceti Sakowin camp as water protectors continue to demonstrate against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S. December 3, 2016 © REUTERS/ Stephanie Keith Tribes File DAPL Complaint with OAS Human Rights Body; DOJ Posts Statement The Standing Rock Sioux and a growing coalition of other tribes, environmental activists and supporters have been protesting the construction of the nearly 1,200 mile pipeline for months, and suffering increasingly violent clashes with law enforcement and security personnel over the issue. The Standing Rock Sioux have objected to the proposed pipeline route for years, saying it threatened their water and sacred cultural sites and violated treaties. The pipeline is mostly complete, and has been waiting for permission to run under federal land encompassing Lake Oahe. "We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing," Archambault said. The tribe thanked everyone who had supported them, calling out in particular the tribal youth who had initiated the movement, those who had traveled to the protest camp and other tribal nations who had stood with them. "Throughout this effort I have stressed the importance of acting at all times in a peaceful and prayerful manner — and that is how we will respond to this decision. With this decision we look forward to being able to return home and spend the winter with our families and loved ones, many of whom have sacrificed as well." Archambault also said he hoped the incoming Trump administration and North Dakota's governor and Congressional representatives would respect the decision. "When it comes to infrastructure development in Indian Country and with respect to treaty lands, we must strive to work together to reach decisions that reflect the multifaceted considerations of tribes.Treaties are paramount law and must be respected, and we welcome dialogue on how to continue to honor that moving forward. We are not opposed to energy independence, economic development, or national security concerns but we must ensure that these decisions are made with the considerations of our Indigenous peoples." He also said he hoped to work together with local law enforcement to "heal" the relationship. "Again, we are deeply appreciative that the Obama Administration took the time and effort to genuinely consider the broad spectrum of tribal concerns. In a system that has continuously been stacked against us from every angle, it took tremendous courage to take a new approach to our nation-to-nation relationship, and we will be forever grateful," the tribe's statement concluded. Some supporters online have said protesters intend to stay in the camps out of fears Energy Transfer Partners, the owner of the pipeline, will build anyway. North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer issued a statement in response to the tribe's announcement. "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…. 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," he said. ... 50

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BREAKING: Victory! Amidst Massive Protests, Army Corps Blocks Dakota Pipeline
Claire Bernish December 4, 2016



image: http://thefreethoughtproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/pipe-line-victory.jpg

In a complete reversal of the expected, early reports say the Army Corps of Engineers has now denied the easement which would allow Energy Transfer Partners to drill and route the Dakota Access Pipeline under the Missouri River.
A press release from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe says “the Department of the Army will not approve an easement that will allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe.”
That statement reads:
“Today, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it will not be granting the easement to cross Lake Oahe for the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline. Instead, the Corps will be undertaking an environmental impact statement to look at possible alternate routes. We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing.
“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and all of Indian Country will be forever grateful to the Obama Administration for this historic decision.”
This announcement comes as thousands of U.S. military veterans continue to descend on Standing Rock to defend Indigenous water protectors from further police violence.
Those veterans join thousands of others encamped on the banks of the Missouri near the Lake Oahe reservoir, where Energy Transfer Partners — the company responsible for construction, and in the midst of a merger with Sunoco Logistics — has continued operations at a drill pad despite stern warnings from the Army Corps against those actions.
While initial reports were unclear, the statement from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe validates the information, first emerging from a Facebook video from Native American Council Elder Remi Baldeagle, in which he stated, smiling broadly:
“Up until this point the American government has failed us, but the American people haven’t. So, I feel American today.”
Baldeagle explained the Secretary of the Army gave the decision to Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II earlier today.
According to the U.S. Army in a statement to its website:
“The Department of the Army will not approve an easement that would allow the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline to cross under Lake Oahe in North Dakota, the Army’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Works announced today,” the Army’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, stated.
“Although we have had continuing discussion and exchanges of new information with the Standing Rock Sioux and Dakota Access, it’s clear that there’s more work to do.The best way to complete that work responsibly and expeditiously is to explore alternate routes for the pipeline crossing.”
Although undoubtedly this news is welcome to the thousands of water protectors camped in the bitter North Dakota winter in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe — and hundreds of thousands worldwide who have worked toward action against the Dakota Access Pipeline — a re-routing is not the ultimate solution most had hoped for.
In fact, on the ground near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, a somewhat subdued mood reigned, as many suspected the Army Corps might simply be acting to defuse an increasingly tense, violent, and controversial situation.
Whether or not the refusal to grant the necessary easement will result in effective changes satisfactory to the Standing Rock Sioux and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes and their supporters will have to be seen in coming days.
In the meantime, however, Energy Transfer Partners is obligated to halt Dakota Access Pipeline construction immediately — and the route under the Lake Oahe reservoir will be permanently abandoned.

Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/breaking-victory-will-no-pipeline-amidst-massive-protests-army-corps-blocks-dapl/#0viLpjLWoXJUBuzo.99



https://youtu.be/5ZyUfqTV460


Thanks to Claire at: http://thefreethoughtproject.com