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Podcast: Richard Epstein Probes Legal Arguments in Dakota Access Pipeline Debate

Professor Richard Epstein discusses the legal and policy arguments surrounding the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s challenge to the Dakota Access Pipeline in a newly released podcast.

Epstein, a senior fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and NYU law professor, has closely followed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s legal challenge to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

  • Forbes Magazine, 10/3/16, “Finish Construction On Dakota Access Now,” by Richard Epstein
  • Forbes Magazine, 9/14/16, “Why The DOJ Order To Shut Down Construction On The DAPL Pipeline Is Legally Indefensible,” by Richard Epstein

Over the past few months he has offered a number of popular reviews on the court proceedings, including the two above columns that appeared in Forbes Magazine.

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Iowa Uses Refined Petroleum Products for the Benefit of America
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Iowa Uses Refined Petroleum Products for the Benefit of America

During the examination of witnesses at today’s session of the IUB public hearing, it was mentioned that Iowa occupies a rather unique position when it comes to energy consumption.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iowa ranks very high in its consumption of energy per capita. In 2013, it was the 5th most energy-intensive state in the nation.

This is not surprising, since Iowa has several energy-intensive industries within its borders. Agriculture, food production, and food processing requires a vast amount of refined petroleum products in order to keep machinery running, and to make sure that Americans can enjoy the important foods they love. Likewise, Iowa’s manufacturing industry, which has proven invaluable to the American economy, uses a significant amount of fuel.

Given that Iowa does not produce any of its own petroleum, all of this energy comes from outside of the state. Investments such as Dakota Access will lower the cost of transporting this valuable resource to refineries, where it is turned into diesel fuel, gasoline, and other products which are necessary to power Iowa’s biggest industries.

Letter: Dakota Access Pipeline would bring jobs

Recently, I attended a hearing of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission and listened to arguments both for and against the Dakota Access Pipeline. As a laborer and native South Dakotan, it is my opinion that the Dakota Access Pipeline does serve a public purpose, as it makes the transport of crude safer and less disruptive while also delivering an abundance of economic benefits to our region.

Insufficient pipeline infrastructure has placed strain on the regional freight network, forcing Bakken crude to move to refineries via rail. This is costly to all parties involved, especially farmers who rely on rail service to move their crops. As calculated by S.D. market analyst Elaine Kub for the American Farm Bureau Federation, the strain placed on the region’s rail network cost farmers a half a billion dollars in lost profits during the 2014 harvest season.

From an economic and labor standpoint, the Dakota Access project will bring thousands of well-paying, local construction jobs to communities along the pipeline route. Additionally, this multibillion dollar project will deliver countless indirect benefits to our local businesses and generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for our communities.

The S.D. PUC is currently reviewing the Dakota Access Pipeline’s application, and I sincerely hope that they see the mutual benefits that this investment can bring to all South Dakotans.

Bismarck Tribune Editorial Supports Law Enforcement Actions

In an editorial published today, the Bismarck Tribune supported the actions of law enforcement to remove protesters from private land, and to clear a roadblock from a public highway. According to the paper, “there were obvious violations of the law.” The paper also correctly characterized the operation to remove protesters following their failure to comply…