Statement: Latest Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Filing
Last week, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, represented by Earthjustice, filed a supplemental complaint as part of its existing lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over permits issued for the Dakota Access Pipeline.
In North Dakota and across the nation the benefits of the Dakota Access Pipeline are clear. Bakken oil production is at record highs, more jobs are being created, and American energy dominance continues to grow. A Wall Street Journal editorial published earlier this year highlighted these advantages:
Increased oil production in the region has resulted in job growth and economic prosperity. North Dakota’s unemployment rate was 2.3% in November, and more than 850 existing wells need fracking crews. State revenue rose by about $43.5 million in the first five months the pipeline was operational. And solely because of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the state is on track for $210 million to $250 million in additional tax revenue by the end of this biennial budget period.
The following is a statement from the GAIN Coalition, which you can attribute to me, Craig Stevens, spokesman for the Coalition:
This legal maneuver is proof-positive that those opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline are unwilling to accept the reality that this project was lawfully permitted and constructed. After almost four years, it is clear that DAPL is the most studied, reviewed, and litigated pipeline in the history of the United States. It is also one of the safest ever constructed and has safely delivered more than two hundred million barrels of oil – shipping about half a million barrels per day. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the courts have determined that both the Army Corps of Engineers and Dakota Access have met or exceeded all laws and regulations governing the permitting, installation, and operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline.