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<div id="reader-header" class="header" style="display: block;"> <font
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href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/08/dakota-access-pipeline-project-continues-operator-oil-obama?CMP=twt_a-world_b-gdnworld">https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/08/dakota-access-pipeline-project-continues-operator-oil-obama?CMP=twt_a-world_b-gdnworld</a></font>
<h1 id="reader-title">Dakota pipeline operator to defy Obama and
push on with final phase of drilling</h1>
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<a rel="author" class="tone-colour" itemprop="sameAs"
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href="https://www.theguardian.com/profile/julia-carrie-wong"><span
itemprop="name">Julia Carrie Wong</span></a></span> in
Cannon Ball, North Dakota, and <span itemscope=""
itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" itemprop="author">
<a rel="author" class="tone-colour" itemprop="sameAs"
data-link-name="auto tag link"
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itemprop="name">Sam Levin</span></a></span> in San
Francisco</p>
<time itemprop="datePublished"
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Tuesday 8 November 2016<span class="content__dateline-time"></span>
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<p>The Dakota Access pipeline operator chose the day of
the US presidential <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/nov/08/us-election-2016-polls-trump-clinton-results-live"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">election</a>
to announce that the final phase of its controversial
construction project will begin in two weeks – marking a
bold escalation in its response to the Native American
protests.</p>
<aside class="element element-rich-link element--thumbnail
element-rich-link--upgraded" data-component="rich-link"
data-link-name="rich-link-1 | 1">
<div class="rich-link tone-analysis--item ">
<div class="rich-link__container">
<p class="rich-link__standfirst u-cf"> Everything
you need to know about the controversial pipeline
that has become an international rallying cry for
indigenous rights and climate change activism </p>
</div>
</div>
</aside>
<p>Energy Transfer Partners, the company overseeing the <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/north-dakota"
data-link-name="auto-linked-tag"
data-component="auto-linked-tag" class="u-underline">North
Dakota</a> oil pipeline, has already completed
construction up to the river that provides water to the
Standing Rock Sioux tribe and announced on Tuesday it
would soon begin drilling at the site.</p>
<p>The company said it would not halt construction,
despite requests by federal agencies to delay the
project as the US government reassesses permits and
considers possible reroutes.</p>
<p>In a statement, Energy Transfer Partners said it was
“mobilizing horizontal drilling equipment” in
preparation for tunneling under Lake Oahe, a reservoir
on the Missouri river by the protest camps and Native
American reservation. The corporation said it would be
ready to start crossing the water in two weeks.</p>
<p>The announcement came on a quiet election day at the
encampments built by members of the Standing Rock Sioux
nation and other indigenous people in opposition to the
pipeline.</p>
<p>After a string of clashes and mass arrests, rumors
spread among activists that the pipeline, government and
tribal leaders had negotiated a <a draggable="true"
href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/11/dakota-access-pipeline-standing-rock-delay"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">30-day
moratorium</a> on both construction and protest or
religious ceremonies on the “front lines” of the
conflict.</p>
<p>“I’m in shock. I’m speechless,” said Cheryl Angel, a
Sicangu Lakota tribe member who has been at the Standing
Rock camps since the spring. “It’s unconscionable and
devastating. It’s almost as though they have no soul.”</p>
<p>The announcement presents the final phase of
construction as a done deal, and will be seen as a clear
illustration that the oil company is aggressively moving
forward with the <a draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/03/north-dakota-access-oil-pipeline-protests-explainer"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">$3.7bn
pipeline</a> in defiance of <a draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/02/dakota-access-obama-suggests-ways-to-reroute-pipeline-being-investigated"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">Barack
Obama</a> and the thousands of demonstrators who are
camped out at Standing Rock to fight the project.</p>
<p>Last week, Obama made his first remarks on the huge
demonstrations since police <a draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/27/north-dakota-access-pipeline-protest-arrests-pepper-spray"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">arrested
hundreds of unarmed protesters</a>, who call
themselves “<a draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/18/north-dakota-pipeline-activists-bakken-oil-fields"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">water
protectors</a>” and say the pipeline is <a
draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/29/north-dakota-oil-pipeline-protest-standing-rock-sioux"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">destroying
sacred indigenous lands</a>.</p>
<p>The president said the US army corps of engineers was
exploring ways to “reroute” around Native American
lands, and said the government was “going to let it play
out for several more weeks, and determine whether or not
this can be resolved in a way that I think is properly
attentive to the traditions of the first Americans”.</p>
<p>In September, the <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/12/north-dakota-standing-rock-protests-civil-rights"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">government
said</a> it would temporarily <a
href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/joint-statement-department-justice-department-army-and-department-interior-regarding-standing"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">halt
permits</a> to dig on federal land near or under the
Missouri river and requested that the company
“voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20
miles east or west” of Lake Oahe.</p>
<p>Energy Transfer Partners ignored that request and
continued construction, recently <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/31/north-dakota-access-pipeline-protest-last-stand"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">approaching
within a few miles of the river</a>, causing
widespread anger and sadness at the Standing Rock camps,
which have been opposing the pipeline since April.</p>
<p>Tuesday’s statement does not address the requests from
the government for a delay. On the contrary, it suggests
that the company is not giving consideration to
alternative routes or Obama’s recent remarks.</p>
<aside class="element element-rich-link
element-rich-link--tag element--thumbnail
element-rich-link--upgraded"
data-component="rich-link-tag"
data-link-name="rich-link-tag">
<div class="rich-link tone-live--item ">
<div class="rich-link__container">
<p class="rich-link__standfirst u-cf"> The US is
waking up to a new president after Trump won a
shock victory, and Hillary Clinton is making her
concession speech this morning in New York </p>
</div>
</div>
</aside>
<p>“Dakota Access previously received a permit from the
army corps with respect the tunneling activities under
Lake Oahe, and Dakota Access has all other regulatory
approvals and land rights to complete the crossing of
the Missouri river at Lake Oahe,” the statement said.</p>
<p>The army corps did not respond to requests for comment.</p>
<p>Asked about Obama’s comments, pipeline spokeswoman
Vicki Granado told the Guardian: “We are not aware that
any consideration is being given to a reroute, and we
remain confident we will receive our easement in a
timely fashion.”</p>
<p>The company’s announcement comes as North Dakota
regulators are moving ahead with a <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/05/dakota-access-oil-pipeline-native-american-artifacts-discovered"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">formal
complaint against the corporation</a> for failing to
properly disclose findings of Native American artifacts
along the construction route.</p>
<p>Angel said the pipeline construction plan was
“environmentally irresponsible” and “illegal”
considering the army corps has yet to approve final
permits. Noting that the Missouri river provided
drinking water to millions, she added: “I’m in tears,
because I can’t believe [the company] would do this to a
whole group of people who don’t have any say.”</p>
<p>This past Sunday, more than a hundred water protectors
used boats to ferry across the Cannonball river and
attempted to climb “Turtle Island” – a portion of army
corps land where tribal members say there are 11 burial
sites. Several tribal elders, including Darrel
Killsinsight, implored everyone to return to the main
camp, referencing the alleged 30-day agreement.</p>
<p>But representatives of the tribe never officially
confirmed that any such agreement was in place, and
Tuesday’s statement flies in the face of any hope for a
moratorium. </p>
<p>Jan Hasselman, the attorney representing the Standing
Rock Sioux in its permit litigation, said that the
statement from Dakota Access was probably a <a
draggable="true"
href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-dakota-pipeline-energy-transfer-idUSKBN1332QZ?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">response
to an army corps spokesman</a> telling Bloomberg that
the company had agreed to slow construction. But, she
added, Dakota Access does not have all the permits it
needs to begin drilling, including the easement. </p>
<p>“Starting construction without permits would be beyond
the pale, even for Dakota Access,” Hasselman told the
Guardian. “It is deeply irresponsible to keep putting
investors’ money into this route when both the President
and Senator Tim Kaine are openly discussing rerouting
away from Lake Oahe.”</p>
<p>The timing of the announcement on election day
instantly raised suspicion – and anger – among the
activists gathered at Standing Rock. Activists have
expressed frustration with the US presidential race,
noting that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton has <a
draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/oct/27/north-dakota-access-pipeline-police-protesters-live-updates?page=with:block-58129388e4b08d944ba4b6f5#block-58129388e4b08d944ba4b6f5"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">refused</a>
to take a position on the conflict and GOP candidate <a
draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/donald-trump-dakota-access-pipeline-investment-energy-transfer-partners"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">Donald
Trump has close financial ties to the pipeline</a>.</p>
<p>“With the election being so big, and North Dakota being
so small, they think they can just sweep this under the
rug,” said Danny Grassrope, a member of the Lower Brule
Sioux Tribe. “I’m not really surprised. Snakes are
sneaky, and this is a black snake. It blindsides
everyone.”</p>
<p>He added: “A lot of people are going to get angry, and
this is where we need to stay positive. We need prayers
more than ever now.”</p>
<p>The protesters were also disappointed that Obama has
not condemned the highly militarized police force in
North Dakota, which has <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/04/dakota-access-pipeline-protest-standing-rock-women-police-abuse"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">arrested
more than 400 people</a> and deployed Mace, Tasers,
rubber bullets and army tanks to respond to
demonstrations.</p>
<p>A UN group is also investigating claims of <a
draggable="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/29/dakota-access-pipeline-native-american-protesters"
data-link-name="in body link" class="u-underline">inhumane
jail treatment</a> and other human rights abuses by
law enforcement.</p>
<p>“Are indigenous people so invaluable that now that
Dakota Access is to the water, does it not matter to
anyone that people are going to start laying down their
lives?” asked Eryn Wise, a member of the Jicarilla
Apache and Laguna Pueblo tribes.</p>
<p>“I think that people need to seriously question the
integrity of the work produced by DAPL right now,
because they’re rushing,” Wise added. “Is it safe when
they’ve been rushing like this?”</p>
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