For months now, there’s been a major environmental protest over the Dakota Access pipeline. From the beginning the protest was based on questionable environmental and legal justifications. Pipelines are a safer mode of energy transport relative to other methods currently being used, and over 99 percent of the 1,200 mile pipeline will cross private land.
Further, the protesters have often been out of control, engaging significant acts of violence, arson, and other lawless behavior. But despite occupying private lands indefinitely and shooting at police officers, the Obama Justice Department refused to support local authorities and clamp down on the protesters. Just last week, President Trump reversed course and approved the final permit for the pipeline to proceed.
Well, now we can add another dubious distinction to the Dakota Access pipeline protest. The environmental protest itself has become an environmental disaster:
It is hard to take such an environmental movement seriously when they thoughtlessly pollute the very rivers they claim they are trying to protect. And naturally, this massive, avoidable clean-up effort will be paid for by taxpayers.
