Army Corps Delays DAPL Easement

Washington, DC – On Monday, November 14, the Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement that “additional discussion and analysis” was “warranted” before they could grant an easement needed by Dakota Access Pipeline to start construction on land near Lake Oahe.

UPDATE: Army Corps of Engineers delays granting easement for #DakotaAccessPipeline construction until further analysis & discussion. #NoDAPL

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

The Army Corps statement clearly laid out that construction “cannot” occur around the lands of Lake Oahe.

“…construction on or under Corps land bordering Lake Oahe cannot occur because the Army has not made a final decision on whether to grant an easement.” Army Corps statement – Nov. 14, 2016

Here is the full statement:

This Army Corps statement on Monday denying an easement comes a week after Dakota Access made an election night statement claiming that:

“Dakota Access remains confident that it will receive the easement for these two strips of land adjacent to Lake Oahe in a time frame that will not result in any significant delay in proceeding with drilling activities under Lake Oahe.” Dakota Access Statement – Nov. 8, 2016

In their November 8th statement, Dakota Access also denied the existence of claims made by the Army Corps that Dakota Access had agreed to slow down their construction.

Construction has continued despite two requests from the Army Corps that DAPL voluntarily stop construction. Dakota Access has created a militarized construction site, complete with Hesco bastions and razor wire to reinforce war-time barriers around the drill site needed to use a horizontal drill to bore under the Missouri River.

Dakota Access builds militarized construction site w/ hesco walls & razor wire to protect oil pipeline from water protectors. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/TembKYZXfW

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 11, 2016

In the statement released November 14, the Army Corps said they continue “to welcome any input that the Tribe believes is relevant to the proposed pipeline crossing or the granting of an easement.”

The Army Corps is expected to hear a lot of input on November 15, 2016, as a national call for #NoDAPL Day of Action at Army Corps of Engineers takes place in cities across the world.

It must be noted that the statement by the Army does not include a definitive “no“; it is merely delaying the process of granting the easement. Here is the full Army Corps of Engineers statement:

“Today, the Army informed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Energy Transfer Partners, and Dakota Access, LLC, that it has completed the review that it launched on September 9, 2016. The Army has determined that additional discussion and analysis are warranted in light of the history of the Great Sioux Nation’s dispossessions of lands, the importance of Lake Oahe to the Tribe, our government-to-government relationship, and the statute governing easements through government property.

The Army invites the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to engage in discussion regarding potential conditions on an easement for the pipeline crossing that would reduce the risk of a spill or rupture, hasten detection and response to any possible spill, or otherwise enhance the protection of Lake Oahe and the Tribe’s water supplies. The Army invites discussion of the risk of a spill in light of such conditions, and whether to grant an easement for the pipeline to cross Lake Oahe at the proposed location. The Army continues to welcome any input that the Tribe believes is relevant to the proposed pipeline crossing or the granting of an easement.

While these discussions are ongoing, construction on or under Corps land bordering Lake Oahe cannot occur because the Army has not made a final decision on whether to grant an easement. The Army will work with the Tribe on a timeline that allows for robust discussion and analysis to be completed expeditiously.

We fully support the rights of all Americans to assemble and speak freely, and urge everyone involved in protest or pipeline activities to adhere to the principles of nonviolence.” – Army Corps Statement – Nov. 14, 2016

Unicorn Riot will continue to regularly provide direct updates about resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Follow our media on Twitter, Facebook, and our website for more information surrounding the ongoing struggles against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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