American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2016 - 16

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near Lake Oahe, the tribe's primary
water source. However, DEPA
continues, shortly after the decision,
three federal agencies expressed plans
to reconsider their permits under the
National Environmental Policy Act and
other federal laws, and so urged
pipeline company Energy Transfer
Partners to voluntarily pause work on
the segment in question.
"This is a direct assault on the rule of

16 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

law in our country, and is a blatant and
further attempt to stop oil and gas
development in America," asserts DEPA
President Mike McDonald. "We call on
Congress to take any measures
necessary to push back on this illegal
action taken by the administration."
The Midwest Alliance for
Infrastructure Now (MAIN) Coalition
warns that the move by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, and the departments

of Justice and Interior, carries chilling
implications not only for jobs directly
associated with DAPL, but threatens to
exact a considerable opportunity cost for
future infrastructure projects. If the
administration kills the project, the
coalition warns, the precedent threatens
to stop prospective projects before they
start.
"No sane American company would
dare expend years of effort and billions
of dollars weaving through an onerous
regulatory process, receiving all
necessary permits and agreements, only
to be faced with additional regulatory
impediments and be shut down halfway
through completion of its project," the
MAIN Coalition says. "We hope and
trust that the government will base its
final decision on sound science and
engineering, not political winds or
pressure."
The North Dakota Petroleum Council
points out that tribal leaders previously
had opportunities to register any
misgivings. "For too long, this project has
been mired in a campaign of
misinformation and violence that does
not consider the greater interests of
national security and the state's and
nation's economic prosperity. We regret
that this decision, which is another
flagrant overreach by the federal
government and this administration, will
only allow this rancor to continue, and
result in more trucks and rail cars moving
oil," NDPC states. "While we support the
efforts to bolster meaningful and openminded discussions with tribal
governments, this project already has met
the rigorous requirements and demands
of not only the federal government, but
four states, and has provided ample
opportunity for comments."
Some labor representatives also
voiced dismay at the development.
North America's Building and Trades
Unions President Sean McGarvey cites
the risky precedent it threatens to set if
political considerations can thwart or
delay infrastructure projects. Such
projects, he avers, are a good source of
employment for his members.
"We are deeply disturbed by the
unprecedented action taken by President
Obama to supersede the decision of a
federal court judge and halt DAPL's
lawful construction," McGarvey states.
"Union members have been relying on
these excellent, family supporting,
middle class jobs with family
American Oil and Gas Reporter - October 2016

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