Local Economies Flourish As Pipeline Construction Nears End

A new column co-authored by Ed Wiederstein, chairman of the MAIN Coalition, and Bill Gerhard, president of the Iowa State Building & Construction Trades Council, makes it abundantly clear that the Dakota Access Pipeline is benefiting the Iowa economy.

“Throughout Iowa work continues on the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, and already the long-touted benefits are being felt from Lyon County to Lee County. From the beginning we’ve touted the benefits and supported its construction because of the good it will do for our state — and now, with the project more than three quarters of the way complete in Iowa — we continue to see the many benefits we have extolled over the past two years.”

Wiederstein and Gerhard have been strong advocates for the landmark energy infrastructure project, often citing the thousands of jobs and millions in economic activity it will generate. But now, as evident in communities across Iowa, the case no longer has to be made, the benefits are here and they’re making a difference.

““The 4,000 construction jobs being generated along the 348 miles of pipeline represent a direct cash infusion into local economies in each county along the pipeline route. Recently, the Sioux City Journal wrote, ‘It’s not easy to put an exact dollar amount on the economic impact of the pipeline construction, local leaders say, but it’s not hard to find evidence that those workers are spending money in the area.’”

The influx of pipeline workers has meant restaurants, hotels, convenience stores and laundry facilities remain busy and close to capacity. That’s good news for business owners and the local economy, results that were consistently alluded to throughout 18 open houses across Iowa as well as during the Iowa Utilities Board hearings in November and December of 2015. Iowa stands to benefit from this pipeline from the construction phase through its operation.”

Wiederstein and Gerhard also note that unlike many large infrastructure projects, Dakota Access, despite being a public benefit, comes at no cost to taxpayers. “Large public infrastructure investments often come at a significant cost to state taxpayers, who are left holding the bag when road crews have finished rebuilding bridges or repaving highways,” they wrote. “But private infrastructure investments like the Dakota Access Pipeline do no such thing.”

Click here to read the full column in the Des Moines Register.

Former PHMSA Administrator: Pipeline Exceeds Requirements

In an article recently published by the Williston Herald, Brigham McCown, former Administration for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA), states that he cannot recall a case where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ever withdrew permits that were validly issued, and he believes any decision to do so should give others pause.

Mr. McCown said on a recent visit to North Dakota, “taking a look at this project and the engineering analysis and I’d like to say based on that review and also visiting with folks on the site today, I am confident that this pipeline is being put in the ground correctly,” McCown said. “It is above what my former agency required, too. In many cases it is well above minimum safety standards.”

He also points out that the Dakota Access pipeline parallels the Northern Border Pipeline, which also runs deep beneath the riverbed at Lake Oahe. The route selected for the Dakota Access Pipeline was meant to parallel this line to ensure that little chance remained for an un-surveyed cultural or archaeological site to be encountered on the route.

But according to Mr. McCown little facts remain in the ongoing debate on the validity of Dakota Access’ already approved construction permits, “The debate right now has nothing to do with the safety of the line itself or its properties[…]In the name of the environment, people are out there undermining environmental safety by opposing these pipelines.”

‘It Turned into a War’: Pipeline Workers Thrown into the Middle of Protests

Cory Bryson, 32, has known about the Dakota Access Pipeline since 2013. He attended public hearings in 2014, when he spoke with landowners, residents, legal staff and representatives of Energy Transfer Partners, the parent company building the pipeline. He recalls there would be a minimum of 50 people at each meeting — none of whom represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

He said they didn’t show up to the hearings in Mandan, Killdeer, Williston and Bismarck or the open house.

Bryson has worked on projects of this size before. He’s been through the process. To Bryson, this was just another ordinary project. Three years later, Bryson told a different story.

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Retired U.S. Army Maj. General: “Corps Deserves Thanks, Not Attacks”

In an op-ed published in the Omaha World Herald, and The Washington Examiner, Ret. Major General Spider Marks expressed his support for the process undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Omaha District Commander Colonel John Henderson.

Major General Marks notes, as we’ve written before, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe choose to not participate throughout the state review process, and willingly had limited to no engagement during the Corps’ own review. Despite repeated attempts to engage the Standing Rock Sioux, the Corps conducted an extremely thorough regulatory review process during the examination of the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the conclusion was made that the pipeline would cause No Significant Impact.

General Marks points out the following, “[t]he Standing Rock Sioux alleged in court that the corps improperly permitted pipeline crossings along the Missouri River. But the record shows otherwise, finding that the tribe could not “come up with evidence that the corps acted unreasonably in permitting even a single jurisdictional activity . . . . Tribal leaders alleged that the corps under Henderson’s command failed to consult them as required by law. Yet, the court found, “The corps has documented dozens of attempts to engage Standing Rock in consultations to identify historical resources at Lake Oahe and other PCN crossings.” In fact, even though he was not required to do so Col. Henderson ordered Dakota Access to have tribal officials on site during construction at Corps-permitted sites and to halt construction if historical or cultural artifacts were discovered.

The Corps should be praised for their hard work throughout the review process, not criticized and berated as they have been by protesters and members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, or left to withstand the brunt of criticism for a political decision made by the Administration. The findings of the Assessment should speak for themselves. The finding of No Significant Impact should ensure that this pipeline, lawfully permitted, should continue to be constructed per the recommendation, hard work, and dedication of the men and women of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Pipeline in Illinois Expected to Be Done by End of Month

Fifteen percent of the entire Dakota Access Pipeline runs through Illinois, and a company spokeswoman said this week that the construction portion of the project will soon be 100 percent complete in this state.

“Construction in Illinois began in May and is expected to be complete by Dec. 1,” said Dakota Access Pipeline’s Lisa Dillinger. “The four-state project is now 85 percent complete and anticipated to be in service in early 2017.”

Dakota Access traverses approximately 177 miles of Illinois, Dillinger said, including portions of Hancock, Adams, Schuyler, Brown, Pike, Scott, Morgan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Bond, Fayette and Marion counties, where it ends. The $3.8 billion, 1,172-mile pipeline also crosses North and South Dakota and Iowa.

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Misinformation Dominates Yet Again in Out-of-Touch Congressional Letter

In a letter addressed to President Obama, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) along with 21 other Democratic members of the House of Representatives again presented another argument riddled with misinformation and emotion rather than the on-the-ground facts concerning the ongoing Dakota Access Pipeline protests.

The most important point in this letter to once again debunk is that at no point does this pipeline cross Standing Rock Sioux land. Period.

The current route not only parallels an existing pipeline, The Northern Border Pipeline, as well as an electrical transmission line, but the route was specifically selected because the area had already been surveyed for cultural and archaeological artifacts. Thus the land Dakota Access will run underneath has already been excavated, at least twice, leaving little chance of an encounter with an unknown site. Additionally, the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office found that no articles or items of cultural significance were within the pipeline construction corridor.

But importantly, the protests have not been peaceful at all. In fact, protesters have engaged in a myriad of violent and illegal activities. They have set fires, slaughtered livestock, fired at gun at law enforcement officers, burned a bridge, terrorized journalists, and repeatedly trespassed on private property. All the while the federal government has refused aid to North Dakota law enforcement, forcing state resources to provide adequate protection for themselves and for private property. What has been construed as “militarism” is in reality defending the lives of union workers and residents of Morton County.

The federal response to the actions of the protesters has been disappointing. Following an extensive and thorough two year review, including analysis by the state of North Dakota as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, political decision makers have forced the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to delay the final easement approval following the onset of illegal protest activity. Though the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe had the opportunity to voice their comments and concerns during the regulatory processes in North Dakota, South Dakota, and throughout the public review and comment process for the Corps, they failed to do so, and are now holding up a legally permitted infrastructure project.

Everyone has a right to peaceful assembly, and to freely speak their mind. But the actions in Morton County have far exceeded any reasonable litmus test for what constitutes free speech. The Federal Government’s inaction continues to create and foster an environment that is hostile and unfair to local community members and law enforcement officers who call the area home.

DAPL Supporters Stress Risks to Public Health, Safety if Protests Continue

There are presently around 3,000 protesters occupying six camps near where the Dakota Access Pipeline will cross the Missouri River. As the seasons change, some have opted to go home, but others have stayed and are beginning to construct shelters in preparation for winter. It’s a sign that they intend to wait out the winter. According to industry officials, though, the pipeline itself is all but built and continued protest is unlikely to be effective.

“This thing is going to get approved,” said Brigham McCown, former acting administrator of the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The project has already received permits from each of the several states it passes through. All that remains is a final easement of about 540 feet on each side of the river. The Army Corps of Engineers has twice defended its approval process for the section in courts, and the courts have agreed construction should continue. But earlier this week, the Corps announced it wanted to halt construction while doing further analysis.

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The Army Corps of Engineers Deserves Thanks, Not Attacks, for Dakota Access Pipeline Work

As a retired Army major general, I know what a challenging job uniformed public service can be. The hazards are enormous, the financial rewards small, and the work never ending. Those who wear the uniform do so out of duty and love of country. Although they do not seek public recognition for their service, they deserve at the very least to be treated as the professionals they are.

In the last several months, one group of extremely hard-working and dedicated U.S. Army professionals serving here in the Midwest has been singled out for consistent and sustained public mistreatment not for any wrongdoing on their part, but as part of an organized campaign to discredit a nearly completed oil pipeline.

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Former Regulator: Pipeline Exceeds Requirements

The former head of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials was in North Dakota Wednesday to inspect the Dakota Access pipeline. Brigham McCown said he cannot recall a case where the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ever withdrew permits that were validly issued, and he believes the manner of that withdrawal should give everyone pause.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Morton County Commission Cody Schulz pushed back on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to further review the pipeline’s crossing at Lake Oahe, saying the federal agency is endangering everyone involved, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe announced a media event at the Oceti Sakowin camp on Friday. The event is to include tours of the camp and interviews with a variety of celebrities and influencers, as well as 25 of the youth water protectors who met with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama when the two visited the tribe in 2014.

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Spider Marks: Pipeline Smear Campaign Must End

Having failed to stop the Dakota Access pipeline through both the regulatory process and the federal court system, opponents have resorted to dirty politics.

In their most shameful tactic yet, they are trying to smear the reputation — and end the career — of a decorated Army combat veteran and respected civil servant whose professional decisions they dislike. This must not be allowed to stand.

The now-famous protests against the 1,172-mile pipeline (which is more than 80 percent complete) began last summer when, with no evidence, leaders of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their political allies sought to delegitimize the pipeline by accusing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of acting illegally and in bad faith.

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