Dakota Access Pipeline

Definition

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a crude oil pipeline project that transports oil from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota to an oil tank farm in Patoka, Illinois. The pipeline has been a subject of significant controversy and protests due to its potential environmental and social impacts, particularly on Indigenous communities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Dakota Access Pipeline was proposed in 2014 and became operational in 2017, spanning approximately 1,172 miles across four states.
2. The pipeline's route was initially planned to cross the Missouri River north of Bismarck, North Dakota, but was later rerouted to cross the river near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, raising concerns about potential water contamination.
3. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Indigenous groups protested the pipeline's construction, citing concerns about its impact on sacred sites, treaty rights, and the potential for oil spills that could contaminate the Missouri River, their primary water source.
4. In 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers halted construction of the pipeline, citing the need for further environmental review, but the Trump administration later reversed this decision and allowed the pipeline to be completed.
5. The Dakota Access Pipeline has been the subject of ongoing legal battles, with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other environmental and Indigenous groups challenging the pipeline's permits and approvals.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Dakota Access Pipeline is connected to the concept of environmental justice.
  • The Dakota Access Pipeline is closely tied to environmental justice concerns because it was routed near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, potentially threatening the tribe's access to clean water and impacting their sacred sites and treaty rights. The protests against the pipeline highlighted the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by Indigenous communities, who often have limited resources and political power to resist such projects. The pipeline controversy exemplifies the need for meaningful engagement and fair treatment of marginalized groups in environmental decision-making processes.
• Describe the role of tribal sovereignty in the Dakota Access Pipeline dispute.
  • The Dakota Access Pipeline conflict raises important questions about tribal sovereignty and the rights of Indigenous nations to make decisions about land use and resource management within their own territories. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe asserted its inherent right to self-governance and to protect its natural resources and cultural heritage, but these claims were often overlooked or undermined by federal and state authorities approving the pipeline's construction. The pipeline dispute underscores the ongoing tensions between tribal sovereignty and the interests of extractive industries and government agencies, highlighting the need for greater recognition and respect for Indigenous decision-making processes.
• Analyze how the environmental impact assessment process for the Dakota Access Pipeline may have been influenced by broader social and political factors.
  • The environmental impact assessment process for the Dakota Access Pipeline was likely shaped by a range of social and political factors beyond the technical analysis of environmental impacts. The pipeline's initial routing near Bismarck, which was later changed to cross the Missouri River near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, suggests that broader social and political considerations, such as the relative political influence and economic interests of different stakeholders, may have influenced the assessment and decision-making process. Additionally, the Trump administration's reversal of the Army Corps of Engineers' decision to halt construction due to the need for further environmental review points to the ways in which political ideology and priorities can shape the interpretation and application of environmental regulations. This highlights the importance of ensuring that environmental impact assessments are conducted in a transparent, inclusive, and impartial manner, with meaningful consideration of the concerns of affected communities.

Related terms

Environmental Justice:

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Tribal Sovereignty:

The inherent right of Indigenous nations to govern themselves, determine their own policies, and manage their own affairs within their own territories.

Environmental Impact Assessment: A process that evaluates the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project, considering factors such as air, water, soil, biodiversity, and human health.