The Texas-based Dakota Access claims the protesters are causing the company “to lose goodwill among its customers” because of delays and are “diminishing” its “opportunity to complete construction of the pipeline’s water crossing before its permits expire”.
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Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II continued calling for peace and nonviolence as demonstrations continued at a construction site for the Dakota Access oil pipeline, a day after a federal district court in North Dakota granted a temporary restraining order against those it deemed were interfering with the work.
During a conference call Monday with reporters, Archambault said he expects more arrests as tribal members and activists continue their opposition to the pipeline. “That is simply not our way”. So, the Tribe will do all it can to see that participants comply with the law and maintain the peace.
The Iowa Utilities Board action authorized Dakota Access Pipeline to start construction activity outside the pre-construction notice (PCN) areas along the route, which crosses the state diagonally from the northwest to southeast corners.
Archambault said he expressed concerns Wednesday to Sens. The company behind the pipeline, Dakota Access LLC, has chose to press charges against the protesters, claiming a need to guarantee the safety of their staff.
“What little we have left is under attack”, Archambault said.
The tribe last week organized protesters to occupy land less than a mile from the tribe’s reservation boundary – land that Dakota Access had meant to cross in order to begin laying down pipe, said Nicole Donaghy, a native of Standing Rock and lobbyist for the Dakota Resource Council. A hearing is set for August 24 in Washington, D.C. The tribe argues the pipeline would disturb sacred sites and affect drinking water for the thousands of residents on the reservation and the millions who rely on it downstream.
The pipeline will run through North Dakota to IL. But Dakota Access and other pipelines need to be thoroughly vetted, reviewed and include proper safeguards, she said. “I believe both he and Michelle Obama were touched”. LaDonna Brave Bull Allard, a tribal historian at Standing Rock, told AP: “Everybody is nonviolent and peaceful, ” adding, “We want to hold them back until we can get to court”.
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Hoeven, R-N.D., said in a statement his office requested in April that the corps consult with the tribe regarding Dakota Access. “If the tribe feels that their input was not adequately addressed or they feel the Corps did not follow proper procedures, they have remedies available to them through the courts”.
