Labor unions, lawmakers and an energy industry coalition are upping the pressure on the Obama administration to stop interfering in the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota.
The Obama administration jumped in to halt the crude oil pipeline after a federal judge on Sept. 9 refused to stop the construction of the pipeline in response to an Indian tribe’s petition that it threatened its only source of fresh water.
On Friday, a partial restraining order that the court did put on one part of the pipeline’s route was lifted, causing proponents to increase their call on the administration to stop dragging out the process and get the project back on track.
The MAIN Coalition, Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now, which supports the pipeline, said they are pleased that Judge James Boasberg “lifted the temporary restraining order … allowing construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue,” said Craig Stevens, spokesman for the group. “We appreciate the judge’s recognition that the United States has a rigorous and robust regulatory process in place and we need to honor it.”
“With regards to the administration’s continued hold on the Dakota Access Pipeline, the MAIN Coalition believes that should the administration base its decision on the facts, science, engineering, and the rule of law, the project will be allowed to move forward,” Stevens said. “However, if the decision is politically motivated and the pipeline is forced to be rerouted or canceled, it would send a chilling message to companies looking to invest in any American infrastructure project.”
The AFL-CIO labor federation also is putting pressure on the Obama administration to build the pipeline, saying Thursday night that “trying to make climate policy by attacking individual construction projects is neither effective nor fair to the workers involved,” said President Richard Trumka.
“The AFL-CIO supports pipeline construction as part of a comprehensive energy policy that creates jobs, makes the United States more competitive and addresses the threat of climate change,” he added. “Pipelines are less costly, more reliable and less energy intensive than other forms of transporting fuels, and pipeline construction and maintenance provides quality jobs to tens of thousands of skilled workers.”
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and the state’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the Justice Department, Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department telling the administration to get out of the way and let the court’s ruling stand.
“We are concerned that this unprecedented action by federal agencies at the conclusion of an established statutory and regulatory review process creates additional uncertainty for this project,” while failing “to recognize the potential wide-ranging implications for future energy infrastructure projects,” the letter said.
