10,000 signatures reached
To: President Biden and Vice President Harris
Shut Down the Dakota Access Pipeline
Please direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately shut down the illegal Dakota Access Pipeline. Your Administration has the opportunity to right this historic injustice that was made by President Trump. This pipeline is operating illegally and must be shut down while the court-ordered environmental impact study is conducted.
Why is this important?
The Biden-Harris administration should be commended for its early focus on climate change, tribal sovereignty, and racial justice and equity, including its decision to stop the Keystone XL pipeline and nominate Rep. Deb Haaland to become Interior Secretary. We, the undersigned, respectfully urge President Biden and Vice President harris to reverse another harmful Trump Administration decision and immediately shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) during its court-ordered environmental review.
When Trump took office four years ago, he stopped the environmental review of the pipeline and fast-tracked it, disregarding serious environmental risks and trampling over Native American treaty rights & tribal consultation. In March 2020, the U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and several other tribes that DAPL is operating without the proper permits and necessary environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. In July, the Court ordered the pipeline shut down pending the environmental review. On January 27th this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals confirmed that the pipeline is operating illegally and gave the Biden-Harris Administration the authority to shut it down, and is asking the Biden-Harris Administration whether they intend to shut it down or allow it to operate illegally without a permit.
We urge President Biden and Vice President harris to remedy this historic injustice and direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to immediately shut down the illegal Dakota Access Pipeline while the Environmental Impact Statement process is conducted, consistent with the D.C. District Court’s decision and order. Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps must ensure a robust environmental review with significant tribal consultation, tribal consent, and a thorough risk analysis.
With real leadership, we have a momentous opportunity to protect our water and respect our environmental laws and the rights of Indigenous people. This is our moment.
Mni Wiconi. Water is life.