NEW POLL FINDS STRONG SUPPORT FOR DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE AMID ARMY CORPS COMMENT PERIOD
The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is currently undergoing another round of review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the section of pipeline running under Lake Oahe in North Dakota. Two new polls commissioned by the GAIN Coalition have found that Americans and North Dakotans strongly support the continued operation of DAPL.
Nationally recognized pollster co/efficient conducted the survey of Americans and North Dakotans across the political spectrum – finding that 88 percent of respondents believe the U.S. should be energy independent and 57 percent are against shutting down DAPL.
Support was even stronger among North Dakotans. 76 percent of North Dakotan respondents said DAPL had a positive impact on the U.S. and 82 percent of respondents said they do not support shutting down the pipeline.
Do you support shutting down the Dakota Access Pipeline?
*Poll of North Dakota General Election Voters
“This poll illustrates that Americans agree that the Dakota Access Pipeline plays a significant role in securing U.S. energy independence – transporting up to 750 thousand barrels of oil daily,” said GAIN spokesman Craig Stevens. “North Dakotans understand better than anyone the benefits of DAPL, as well as the consequences a shutdown would have on both the local economy, domestic gas prices, and national security. These benefits, along with DAPL’s demonstrated safety over the past six years of operation, should lead the Army Corps’ review to a single outcome: the continued operation of DAPL.”
While a vocal minority has magnified opposition to the project, the poll shows that these views are not shared by most Americans. In fact, only 15 percent of national respondents said DAPL should be shut down.