American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2016 - 103

ically, the grading and clearing of land-
will cause irreparable injury to historic or
cultural properties of great significance."
The opinion considers the law's myriad
survey and consultation requirements and
details regulators' compliance with them
all. "In summary, the Corps has documented dozens of attempts it made to
consult with the Standing Rock Sioux
from the fall of 2014 through the spring
of 2016," Boasberg writes. "These included
at least three site visits to the Lake Oahe
crossing to assess any potential effects
on historic properties and four meetings."
An editorial in the Grand Forks, N.D.,
Herald addresses the matter: "Tribal officials say the pipeline will cross sacred
ground. But no one raised that claim
back in the 1980s, when the route was
dug up for an earlier pipeline. No one
raised it in the years since then, either.
"Moreover," the op-ed continues, "no
one has presented any evidence in support
of that claim at all. To the contrary, the
evidence that has been presented contradicts the claim. Notably, it comes from
professional archaeologists, who have
walked the route a number of times and
not found artifacts or human remains."
Boasberg's ruling points to evidence
indicating that the pipeline company finalized its route only after NHPA due
diligence was complete, deliberately shifting the route during the planning phase
to avoid culturally significant sites.

REPORT. . . . . . . . . . .
FROM PAGE 81
continue to take place in virtually every
sector of the economy if we are able to
take advantage of our abundant, inexpensive energy supplies."
The analysis also found that other sectors would have realized very few new
jobs and very little growth throughout a
scenario with no energy renaissance. In
other words, the chamber says, the United
States has experienced job growth and
economic expansion since 2009 largely
thanks to a massive expansion in U.S. oil
and gas production.
The Energy Institute report examines
the oil and gas value chain impact, as well
as the economic effect that lower energy
prices have spurred. The report breaks
down benefits for both the residential and
industrial sectors, and provides an in-depth
examination of the job sources. The Energy
Institute's report utilizes publically available
data on jobs and production levels, and
the IMPLAN macro-economic model.
See more at: http://www.energy xxi.org/new-energy-institute-report-examines-what-america-would-look-if-energy-renaissance-never-happened.
❒

Ultimately, the Herald editorial suggests,
claims about desecrating sacred ground
undermine DAPL opponents' case. It states,
"The claims being made by people trying
to block DAPL's construction are based
more on pretense than in fact. That ruins
the protestors' credibility, and makes it
very unlikely they will gain majority support
from the voters they need to convince."
Meticulously Vetted
As for claims that DAPL poses an
acute environmental threat, Association
of Oil Pipelines President and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Black told the
North Dakota Petroleum Council that a
proposed alternative route that crossed
the Missouri River near Bismark, N.D.,
would disturb more flood plains, wetlands,
water bodies, and agricultural lands. Moreover, the Corps' NEPA review predicted
no significant environmental impacts and
determined an operating DAPL would be
safer and better for the environment than
the status quo (see related story, pg. 98).
In an Oct. 26 letter in which he criticizes
five unions who oppose DAPL, Laborers
International Union of North America
General President Terry O'Sullivan charges
that keep-it-in-the-ground activists are
taking advantage of Native Americans.
"The groups behind the anti-pipeline
movement are exploiting tribal concerns
in an effort to mobilize public opinion
against pipeline projects that have nothing
to do with tribal concerns," O'Sullivan
asserts. "DAPL does not run through sacred burial sites or across any part of the
Standing Rock Reservation, and it does
not pose a threat to the Missouri River.
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AND CIRCULATION REQUIRED BY THE ACT OF
AUGUST 12, 1970: SECTION 3685, TITLE 39,
UNITED STATES CODE, FOR THE AMERICAN OIL
& GAS REPORTER, PUBLISHED MONTHLY, PLUS
AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER
AND OCTOBER, AT HAYSVILLE, KANSAS, WITH
DATE OF FILING OCTOBER 12, 2016.
Title of Publication: The American Oil & Gas Reporter. Frequency of Issue: MONTHLY. Location of known office of
publication: 1326 East 79th Street South, Haysville, KS
67060-2217, Sedgwick County. Location of the headquarters or general business office of the publishers: 1326 East
79th Street South, Haysville, KS 67060-2217. Publisher
Charles E. Cookson, 2800 S. 127th St. East, Wichita, KS
67210. Managing Editor: Bill Campbell, 909 N. Maize Rd.
#222, Wichita, KS 67212. Owner: National Publishers
Group Inc., P.O. Box 343, Derby, KS 67037-0343. Stockholders: Charles E. Cookson, 2800 S. 127th St. East, Wichita, KS 67210; Bill Campbell, 909 N. Maize Rd. #222,
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Opponents want the public to believe
these issues were not considered over
the two-year review process. But this is
not some half-baked project. It is an allunion-built pipeline that was meticulously
reviewed and vetted."
After arrests were made in four states
following the criminal disruption of oil
pipelines on Oct. 11, the Montana Petroleum
Association condemned such acts as sabotage. It noted that trespassers used bolt
cutters to remove chains and then tampered
with five border-crossing valves on pipelines
that collectively moved 2.8 million bbl/d
of crude from Canada to the United States.
"As unlawful and dangerous criminal
activity continues to spread throughout
the country, federal law enforcement must
act quickly and decisively to prosecute
these domestic acts of terrorism to the
fullest extent of the law," urged MPA
Executive Director Alan Olson.
Consumer Energy Alliance President
David Holt also calls attention to the potential
for harm from such actions. "The steps
taken by these individuals to sabotage
pipelines-in addition to the threats, intimidation and cyber-bullying tactics they are
using-clearly show that their agenda has
nothing to do with protecting the environment
and everything to do with shutting down
the American economy and hurting everyday
Americans, families, small business, and
our economic way of life," he charges.
"American families-especially those living
on fixed incomes, or those at or near the
poverty level-are the ones who will be especially harmed by electricity and fuel
price increases caused by irresponsible
efforts to shut down pipelines."
❒
Total number copies printed (net press run), average number
copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 18,400. Actual number of copies of single issue published nearest to
filing date: 17,500 (August 2016). Paid circulation outsidecounty mail subscriptions, average number of copies each
issue preceding 12 months: 16,893. Actual number of
copies single issue nearest to filing date: 16,214. Paid incounty subscriptions: none. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors and counter sales, and other non-USPS:
none. Other classes mailed through USPS: none. Total paid
and/or requested circulation, average number of copies each
issue during preceding 12 months: 16,893. Number of
copies single issue nearest to filing date: 16,214. Free distribution by mail, outside-county, average number of copies
each issue during preceding 12 months: 1,007. Actual number of free distribution by mail copies single issue nearest
to filing date: 786. Free distribution by mail, in-county:
none. Free distribution by mail, other classes mailed through
USPS: none. Free distribution outside the mail: none. Total
free distribution, average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 1,007. Actual number of free distribution by mail copies single issue nearest filing date: 786.
Total distribution, average number of copies each issue during preceding 12 months: 17,900. Actual number of copies
of single issue published nearest to filing date: 17,000.
Copies not distributed, average number copies each issue
during preceding 12 months: 500. Actual number of copies
of single issue published nearest to filing date: 500. Total,
average number copies each issue during preceding 12
months: 18,400; percent paid and/or requested circulation,
94%. Actual number of copies of single issue nearest to filing date: 17,500; percent paid and/or requested circulation,
95%. Signed by Angie M. Lubbers, Comptroller.

NOVEMBER 2016 103

American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Oil and Gas Reporter - November 2016