Below is what happened on Trump's thirteenth day in office. You can find out what damage was done every other day so far on the Saddest Calendar on the Internet.Just two months ago, the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux rejoiced when the US Army Corps of Engineers denied the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline that could've threatened the tribe's access to clean drinking water. Instead of crossing under Lake Oahe, a Corps reservoir in North Dakota that supplies the tribe clean water, the uncompleted portion of the pipeline was expected to be rerouted. But that was before President trump took office.On January 24th, the Trump administration gave permission for the construction of DAPL with an executive order. But as Motherboard reported immediately after, there were still questions around whether or not the project's environmental impact would be reviewed:"Trump's reversal of that decision continues a historic pattern of broken promises to Indian Tribes and unlawful violation of Treaty rights," said Standing Rock Sioux attorney Jan Hasselman. "They will be held accountable in court."
That's Bleak. Who's Fighting Against It?According to the organization Earthjustice, a Native Nations march on Washington is scheduled for March 10. "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and tribes across the country invite allies in America and from around the world to join the march," the site reads."We call on the Native Nations of the United States to stand together, unite and fight back. Under this administration, all of our rights, everything that makes us who we are is at risk. Please respect our people and do not come to Standing Rock and instead exercise your First Amendment rights and take this fight to your respective state capitols, to your members of Congress, and to Washington, D.C.," said Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, in a statement.
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Two days ago, Motherboard followed up with the news that its environmental impact would not be reviewed, and the Army Corps of Engineers approved a permit to complete the pipeline's construction under Lake Oahe.This morning, according to the Chicago Tribune, the project developer said the pipeline in its entirety should be operational within three months. Details are as following:The President's federal hiring freeze has affected the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has yet to review the project's environmental impact statement—a rigorous investigation of how the pipeline could harm land, water, wildlife, and humans…The freeze might also restrict the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense agency in charge of issuing permits for the pipeline, from hiring new staff to expedite the project.
The Tribute also reported that the Cheyenne River Sioux asked a federal judge today to halt the construction because of a withstanding lawsuit against the pipeline proceeds. While the "ETP didn't immediately respond in court…[and] U.S. District Judge James Boasberg didn't immediately rule," the pipeline's path isn't yet unobstructed.The Army granted Energy Transfer Partners formal permission Wednesday to lay pipe under Lake Oahe, clearing the way for completion of the 1,200-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline. ETP spokeswoman Vicki Granado confirmed early Thursday that construction resumed "immediately after receiving the easement."
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That's Bleak. Who's Fighting Against It?According to the organization Earthjustice, a Native Nations march on Washington is scheduled for March 10. "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and tribes across the country invite allies in America and from around the world to join the march," the site reads."We call on the Native Nations of the United States to stand together, unite and fight back. Under this administration, all of our rights, everything that makes us who we are is at risk. Please respect our people and do not come to Standing Rock and instead exercise your First Amendment rights and take this fight to your respective state capitols, to your members of Congress, and to Washington, D.C.," said Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, in a statement.