DAPL Ruling Threatens American Economy & Energy Security
The U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, today ruled the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) must cease operations until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the already approved and operational Dakota Access Pipeline. This comes after Judge James Boasberg in March ordered the Army Corps to conduct additional environmental review, despite a previous “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI).
As we have stated exhaustively, the Army Corps met or exceeded all guidelines when conducting its review of DAPL and performing the Environmental Assessment. North Dakota also conducted a 13-month review before they allowed construction to move forward.
Below is a statement that can be attributed to me, Craig Stevens, spokesman for the GAIN Coalition and former senior advisor to U.S. Energy Secretary Sam Bodman:
“Today’s order to shut down Dakota Access jeopardizes our national and energy security and raises significant concerns for the future of American energy infrastructure investment. Since coming into service three years ago, DAPL has safely transported more than a half a million barrels of crude oil per day from the Bakken oil fields of North Dakota to the Patoka Oil Terminal in southern Illinois.
“Despite its safe operation and having received the necessary permits and approval from both state and federal regulators, Judge Boasberg has decided to side with environmental activists to shut in our nation’s critical natural resources. A robust energy infrastructure network is the lynchpin to our nation’s energy and economic success, and DAPL is a key component of that growing network.
“While we are disappointed with the judge’s decision, the GAIN Coalition is hopeful that common sense will prevail and this decision will be stayed or overturned. We remain confident the Corps’ additional review will affirm its previous findings on DAPL.”