John,
In operation since June 2017, the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is an illegal, unpermitted $3 billion pipeline designed to carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois -- meaning it crosses underneath the Missouri River, the longest river on the continent. A leak in the pipeline would have the potential to destroy the drinking water supply for millions of people who live downstream.
Earlier this year the leadership of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sent a letter to President Biden urging him to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performs its environmental and safety review.
“We are gravely concerned about the continued operation of this pipeline, which poses an unacceptable risk to our sovereign nation,” — Chairman Mike Faith of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Sadly just this month, in response to a federal judge’s request, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has recommitted to their opposition to shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
The continued operation of this pipeline undermines tribal sovereignty and risks poisoning the Tribe’s drinking water. DAPL was built without the Tribe's consent, runs through the Tribe’s ancestral lands, and has destroyed many of their sacred sites.
It is an environmental injustice and must be shut down.
Stand with DFA and our allies Representative Raul Grijalva, and Senators Jeff Merkley, and Elizabeth Warren as we demand that Biden shuts down DAPL.
On January 26th the D.C. Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers violated federal law by issuing permits for DAPL's construction.
Yet, instead of shutting down the pipeline, The Biden administration is allowing the pipeline to continue illegally operate without a permit.
This means that even though the Dakota Access Pipeline poses a danger to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and is trespassing on federal lands, it will still be in operation until the environmental review of the line is completed next year.
Once the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completes its environmental review, a decision will be made on whether to issue a new permit for the pipeline.
But President Biden shouldn't have to wait for this assessment to be completed to know that this pipeline must be shut down now.
Tell President Biden to respect tribal sovereignty and take climate change seriously by shutting down the Dakota Access Pipeline now.
Thanks for standing in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux at this critical moment.
— Tre
Tre Graves
Campaign Organizer
Democracy for America
