Following a decision by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, construction is again moving forward on the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.
Despite ongoing protest activity, workers from craft trade unions are continuing their work to ensure that the pipeline is constructed on schedule, and using proper safety protocols. Kevin Pranis, marketing manager for the North Dakota Chapter of the Laborer’s International Union of North Dakota said about 400 of the union’s members who are employed on the 1,172-mile Dakota Access pipeline were back to working on the project on Monday.
“Our members are proud to be building the safest pipeline in North Dakota,” said Tim Mackey, business manager for the North Dakota chapter of Laborers International Union of North America, said. “They just want to know why the federal and state government haven’t done more to keep us safe from protesters who are destroying equipment, blocking roads, following our vehicles and putting us and themselves in harm’s way.”
Crews plan for construction to move forward even as the weather turns colder and protests continue.
“It kinda reaffirms with what we’ve known all along that this is a one hundred percent legal project that Dakota Access is pursuing and building, and we’re just excited to be a part of it,” said Cory Bryson, Laborers Local 563.
87% of the pipeline has already been constructed in North Dakota according to a September construction report.