A top House Republican was interrupted by protesters during a hearing on the disputed Dakota Access pipeline project after he asked questions that activists considered adversarial.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Joe Barton, of Texas, was asking questions of a senior executive with the company building the pipeline when a protester in the committee room took over the question and answer session.
The Q&A session went as follows:
Barton: “What is the issue with the Indian tribe or tribes that seems to be controversial in their mind?”
Dakota Access pipeline director Joey Mahmoud: Says that because the company is not a government, “we cannot enter into formal consultation with the tribe to resolve some of the issues that they claim.” The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says the pipeline threatens its drinking water supply in crossing underneath Lake Oahe in North Dakota.
Mahmoud said the company did have informal consultations with the Standing Rock tribe seven times, and the Army Corps of Engineers reached out nine times in seeking to resolve the concerns.
Barton: “Under state and federal law, you don’t have the right to consult with an Indian tribe because you are not a government, is that correct?”
Protester interrupts: “Yes, thank you very much. We don’t have the treaty … [inaudible].”
Barton: “I am asking the question of him. I’m just trying to understand it. I’m not trying to be adversarial or controversial.”
Protesters had been chanting loudly outside the hearing room during the afternoon session of the two-part hearing. But none had managed to disrupt the proceedings until Barton spoke.
Chad Harrison, representing the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, also testified at the hearing, saying the tribe is being forced to assume all the risks from the pipeline without any benefits. He also said the tribe does not oppose energy security policies and development, but requires government-to-government consultations from the beginning of any process regarding major projects that affect their lands.
The hearing is one of a series meant to discuss the types of policy reforms needed in meeting the goals of President Trump’s anticipated infrastructure plan.
