A Disturbing Trend: The Standing Rock Protests
The Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172 mile underground oil pipeline project. It's a project of Energy Transfer Partners, a natural gas and propane company.
The pipeline winds through 4 states, starting in Stanley, ND, and ending at a gas processing farm in Patoka, IL.
After securing their final permit in March 2016, construction began on the $3.7 billion project.
As of Nov. 2016, the project is 87 per cent complete
But activists and community members of the Standing Rock Native American reservation have voiced their concerns about the pipeline's impact on water and environmental quality.
The protestors of the Standing Rock reservation are urging U.S. President Barack Obama to cancel a previously-granted permit for the construction of the last 1,100 feet, saying that they weren't consulted about the pipeline.
The pipeline isn't technically on the
reservation's land, but because it is so close to the land, it will still affect the territory of the indigenous community.
According to a 2012 study conducted by the Library of Parliament, there are several serious risks associated with natural gas and oil pipelines.
Pipelines can negatively affect air quality, soil quality, geology and terrain, vegetation, wildlife, and water quality and quantity.
Not to mention, in the case of a rupture or blockage, the pipelines can fail or rupture, leaking tonnes of oil into the surrounding environment.
Pipeline ruptures are not uncommon. In North America, there have been two recent ruptures: one July 2010, into the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, MI, and another north of Peace River, AB in April 2011. The ruptures released over 3,000 cubic metres (m³) and 4,000 m³ respectively of heavy crude.
Since Aug. 2016, the highly-publicized protesters who stand with Standing Rock have been arrested, sprayed with cold water, and bitten by police dogs in an effort to keep them away from the pipeline.
A map of the proposed Dakota pipeline, shown in red, with the Standing Rock Reservation shown in orange.
CC image courtesy of NittyG on Wikipedia
A picture of the current progress of the Dakota pipeline.
CC image courtesy of Carl Wycoff on Wikipedia
Several cities have been the sites of solidarity marches, including San Francisco
CC image courtesy of Pax Ahimsa Gethen on Wikipedia
As of Dec. 2016, the protestors haven't moved, and the final 1,100 feet haven't been completed.