Obama Administration Sides with the Standing Rock Sioux #DakotaAccessPipeline

Immediately after the Washington, DC District Court ruled against the Standing Rock Sioux’s request for an injunction on the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Department of Justice, Department of the Army, and Department of the Interior took swift action. They announced that the Army Corps will not authorize construction on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe until they can reconsider their previous decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or additional federal laws and requested that construction be paused on all activity within 20 miles east and west of Lake Oahe. Furthermore, they will initiate government-to-government consultation on changes needed to this process.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“This is a historic, unprecedented, and overdue move by the Administration that is reflective of the brave and principled stand by the Standing Rock Sioux. The Tribe has stood up to combat the oppression and injustice they and Native Americans throughout our country have faced for generations, and the Administration was right to recognize it.

“There is still work that remains. While construction will be halted on a portion of the project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should finish the job and reject this dirty and dangerous pipeline once and for all. It should never have taken legal action by the Tribe to require that this or any pipeline receive a common sense, thorough environmental and climate review of the effects they pose, but we are thankful that the Administration acted swiftly after the deeply flawed decision was made.

“The Sierra Club will continue to support, stand with, and work alongside the Standing Rock Sioux to ensure that the president acts in the Tribe and our climate’s interest and rejects the Dakota Access Pipeline.”