Dakota Access Pipeline Stoppage: Purely Political?

Dakota Access Pipeline operator announced earlier this week that they will still commit on completing a section of the project that would run near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, despite the U.S. government's decision to change the routes and have an alternative one.

In a statement released last Monday, the Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics Partners then criticized and described the decision as purely political connection, referring to the Army Corps of Engineers' decision, suggesting that they will complete the original route as soon as Obama leaves office.

According to The Verge, the White House has directed the Corps to further delay the project. These changes in political actions by an administration have abandoned the rule of law and in favor of currying favor with the narrow and extreme political constituency.

The halt of the construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline was favored by the environmental activists and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. They have been protesting for months already according to Yahoo.

The Native Americans and Sioux have protested to stop the construction of the pipeline near the Missouri River, which is also known as Lake Oahe. Their major concern is that if it is continued, it will contaminate the drinking water and would run through the sacred burial grounds.

The Army Corps delayed the construction that would allow the Energy Transfer Partners drill and access the reservoir. The stoppage was due to lack of additional study to determine its environmental impacts.

The decision stopped the construction and halted for the moment and would call for environmental studies for another route, though President-elect Donald Trump could pursue the original route when he takes his office. Energy Transfer Partners is one of the companies that was affected by the halt and Donald Trump is one of the partners..

He also supports the completion of the project, though his transition team insisted that it has nothing to do with his personal investments.