Trump Administration Greenlights Dakota Access Pipeline: NRDC Reaction

WASHINGTON – Despite a commitment to perform a full environmental assessment of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Army Corps of Engineers announced the approval of the controversial project today. The move comes soon after President Trump’s memorandum calling for a fast-tracking of the project, over objections from the Standing Rock Sioux related to impacts on important cultural sites and threats to their drinking water.

Following is a statement by Rhea Suh, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“This is another signal that the new Administration will be putting polluters first. The President’s memo telegraphed that water and cultural concerns raised by the Standing Rock Sioux would be waived off in favor of the oil industry. The fact that they could not be bothered to wait until after the public comment deadline to rubberstamp this project is telling.

“The brave resistance of the Standing Rock Sioux sparked an important national movement about land, water and sovereignty associated with America’s dangerous fossil fuel addiction. And this action, trampling the rights and legitimate concerns of indigenous people, will likely raise further concerns about how this Administration interacts with tribal nations and other communities fighting for their rights to a healthy environment.” 

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, Montana, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.