Dakota Access Pipeline…The Fight of Environmental and Native American’s

Protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline being created

The protests of creating this pipeline started when the uproar of Native American’s felt like they had no voice over the construction. This pipeline is supposed to stretch across four different states and Energy Transfer Partners know the risks that a possible malfunction can create. While the environmental factors of the possibility of an oil spill the major issue are of personal worth. The pipeline was supposed to travel through the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. This is a violation of a signed treaty with Native America’s and the United State government. By building this pipeline not only would it be saying that the US Army Corps of Engineers did not care about what the Native American’s say, but they do not care what happens to them and the sacred land. The Corps was putting the Native Americans in potential environmental risk not only to them and their health but to their sacred land which they extremely value.

The major risk of this pipeline being constructed is that it is underground. We know what oil pollution does to the ocean and how when oil is dispersed it becomes a thin layer on the surface. However, with it being underground it could take months to notice a leak in the pipeline and by the time the proper authorities are made aware of this situation the damage will have already been done. There is also life underground, what will happen to them? Are their lives not as valuable as our “need” for oil? The pros of creating this pipeline, like being able to generate and transport more oil do not overweight the cons, which is endangering a group of people and exposing them to toxic waste. As well as harming the natural land and any living organisms that live there.