Obama administration orders ND pipeline construction to stop

[DonViejo]

Source: The Hill

The Obama administration said it would not authorize construction on a critical stretch of the Dakota Access pipeline, handing a significant victory to the Indian tribe fighting the project the same day the group lost a court battle.

The administration said construction would halt until it can do more environmental assessments.The Department of Justice, the Army and the Interior Department jointly announced that construction would pause on the pipeline near North Dakota's Lake Oahe, a major water source on the Missouri River for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

The agencies will now decide whether they need to reconsider permitting decisions for the pipeline under the National Environmental Policy Act. "The Army will move expeditiously to make this determination, as everyone involved — including the pipeline company and its workers — deserves a clear and timely resolution," the agencies said in a statement. "In the interim, we request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe."

The Lake Oahe crossing was a major concern for the tribe, which worries about the impact a leak in the pipeline would have on the lake. A federal judge Friday denied the tribe's request to halt construction on the 1,170-mile pipeline. The administration's decision came shortly after that decision.

-snip-


Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/295223-obama-administration-orders-nd-pipeline-construction-to-stop

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Cue exploding Trump tweet and wanna-be Sec Energy Palin chime in. . . . . nt

[yallerdawg]

2. This is going to cost some money!

But really hard to explain to NAFTA ISDS arbitrators why one pipeline gets approved and another (Keystone XL) doesn't.

That would be a lot more money!

By the way - back to trucks and trains. It ain't stayin' in the ground.

[Fast Walker 52]

4. It SHOULD stay in the ground

[booksenkatz]

12. But - but - profit! NT

[yellerpup]

7. This is the Keystone XL by another name.

This product (tar sands oil) is too filthy to refine in the US which is why they need a pipeline to send it offshore. They don't use it at all in the USA and it benefits no one but the Koch brothers.

[yallerdawg]

10. This pipeline is to transport Bakken region oil...

from the fields in North Dakota.

We need to be aware of the consequences - "infrastructure" projects are everywhere! Our energy independence can be at risk - our economic rebound can be at risk.

A smooth transition to renewable energy could be at risk.

Presidential elections could be at risk!

The Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now, a coalition of more than 40 agricultural and business organizations across the Midwest who have argued the pipeline is essential for economic development in the region, reacted to the initial ruling with relief.

But the group then described the Obama administration's decision to intervene as "deeply troubling," warning that it could have a "long-lasting chilling effect" on infrastructure development.

"Should the Administration ultimately stop this construction, it would set a horrific precedent," said Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the coalition. "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 shutdown halfway through completion of its project."

The Justice Department also suggested that the problems that have arisen during the pipeline's construction process highlight the need for consideration of "nationwide reform" on tribal approval of infrastructure projects.

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20160909-dallas-firm-s-dakota-access-pipeline-project-halted-by-obama-administration.ece

[bluedigger]

16. Just think of all those lost profits enriching greedy archaeologists for no good reason!

[Odin2005]

27. It should stay in the ground.

We need to quit using fossil fuels. Also, oil is usually never good long term for a region's economy, the oil industry deforms the local society and economy, filling it with low-functioning macho-douche workers prone to drinking, crime, and violence against women; and driving up the cost of housing. It also corrupts politics, Big Oil now OWNS North Dakota and the ND state legislature does whatever Big Oil wants

[Fast Walker 52]

3. wow-- I didn't expect that. Awesome!

[geardaddy]

5. K & R

My worry is that the construction company will go ahead anyway and say "Oops, my bad."

[George II]

14. Even if they continue construction, oil won't be flowing for a long time anyway.

[geardaddy]

17. That's true

But the damage to the Dakota land wiil be bad

[awoke_in_2003]

6. Good news. nt

[JudyM]

8. Amazingly good news Friday. Respect.

[DebJ]

9. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS. I had just read the judges order and my head was exploding.

[Hekate]

11. I love Environmental Impact Reports. They are the greatest legal stall known to man...

...and I mean that in the best possible way.

[truthisfreedom]

13. Good news. We need to slow the oil pumping to a trickle. We need it for chemicals and plastics.

We should not be burning it. We should be using renewable energy, primarily hydro, wind, solar and geothermal. There's no reason to burn up our oil resources when we need plastics and exotic chemicals for the foreseeable future.

Oil is a good thing. In the quantities we need for manufacturing, it can be safely transported overground. It's only when we burn it that we need these ridiculous pipelines and all of the rail cars and millions of semi tankers. Not to mention everything going across the oceans.

[heaven05]

23. thorium

is an answer to energy woes

[annabanana]

15. this is good. . . n/t

[Mc Mike]

18. Go, Standing Rock! Thanks, Prez. O.

[Andy823]

19. Great news K&R

Now I am sure that all those who were bad mouthing the president last week on this issue will soon be posting their apologies, right?

[Sunlei]

20. I love Obama!! Pull the Fraud Permits and please fire the department who granted the permits.

[hedda_foil]

22. "Should the Administration ultimately stop this construction, it would set a horrific precedent,"

I absolutely our president today, and the following paragraph from yallerdawg's link from the Dallas Morning News makes me want to for joy!

Should the Administration ultimately stop this construction, it would set a horrific precedent," said Craig Stevens, a spokesman for the coalition. "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 shutdown halfway through completion of its project."

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/20160909-dallas-firm-s-dakota-access-pipeline-project-halted-by-obama-administration.ece

[Taitertots]

32. What's wrong with you that you bask in the suffering of millions of Americans?

Or do you live in some fantasy world were the well being of hundreds of millions of people doesn't depend on easy access to oil/gas.

[hedda_foil]

34. That's a really interesting response from a Democrat.

[prairierose]

24. Take a look at a map...

Lake Oahe is huge. It stretches for more than 100 miles from ND down into central SD where Oahe dam is. Can you imagine a lake that large with oil in it? And then the oil would just continue downstream all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

The age of oil is over. It is past time to leave it behind and stop building infrastructure for a dead energy source that is killing us.

[niyad]

25. some good news, finally.

[Odin2005]

26. THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT!!!

[scscholar]

28. Our ruler needs to do this to more corporations

That could really help.

[lonestarnot]

29. Thank you Mr. President!

[MichMan]

30. Why were the permits issued in the first place?

Even if you don't personally approve of the pipeline, there were years of studies and review before permits were issued and construction was started. Now that the pipeline was allowed to be constructed, I don't understand how everyone here is cheering the government ruling it must be stopped.

Imagine getting financing and all the building permits to build a new house and once you have it 3/4 done being told that you local government had changed it's mind and now you had to stop.

Would everyone here be cheering that decision too?

[ucrdem]

31. Apparently the financing was just completed in August

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/bakken-pipeline-financing-complete-share-sold-to-pay-debt/

Sounds like a rush job that didn't get the community support it would need t go forward on its own and the WH is in no mood to help it in an election season, so it gets shelved. It happens.

[LanternWaste]

33. This will bring out the concern trolls.

This will bring out the concern trolls.