What is the Dakota Access Pipeline?

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a 1,168-mile crude oil pipeline that extends from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa and into Illinois. It crosses the Missouri River less than a mile from Standing Rock Reservation where the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe resides.

The tribe has sued the federal government, saying they were not properly consulted over the project.

Proponents of the DAPL argue that it will help the United States become less dependent on importing energy from unstable regions of the world. Opponents say the pipeline will have a negative environmental impact that could devastate surrounding communities like the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

The US Army Corps of Engineers approved the project and construction is already taking place. However, legal disputes and protests are currently under way.

Learn More

5 things to know about the Dakota Access Pipeline
Dakota Access Pipeline Protests: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

What Can I Do?

Do This One Now – Sign the Petitions

1. Sign the petition to the White House to Stop DAPL
2. Sign the EarthJustice Petition. EarthJustice is the legal representative of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

If You Can Give Financially – Contribute

1. Contribute to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s fundraiser
2. Contribute to the Sacred Stone Camp Legal Defense Fund
3. You can donate items from the Sacred Stone Camp Supply List

If You are Amazing – Call, Email, Write

1. Call or Email your Congressional Representative or Senator. You can find the Congressional Representative for your district by typing “phone number congressman” into google, or here. You can find the senators for your state here.
2. Call or Email Denis McDonough, Chief of Staff to the President and Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of Army Corp of Engineers. Tell them to rescind the permits granted to Dakota Access:

   Denis McDonough, Chief of Staff to the President
   dmcos@who.eop.gov
   (202) 456-3182

   Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of Army Corp of Engineers
   joellen.darcy@us.army.mil
   (703)697-8986

3. Call the Army Corps of Engineers and demand that they reverse the permit: (202) 761-5903
4. Call the executives of the companies that are building the pipeline:

   Lee Hanse
   Executive Vice President
   Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
   800 E Sonterra Blvd #400
   San Antonio, Texas 78258
   Telephone: (210) 403-6455
   Lee.Hanse@energytransfer.com

   Glenn Emery
   Vice President
   Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
   800 E Sonterra Blvd #400
   San Antonio, Texas 78258
   Telephone: (210) 403-6762
   Glenn.Emery@energytransfer.com

   Michael (Cliff) Waters
   Lead Analyst
   Energy Transfer Partners, L.P.
   1300 Main St.
   Houston, Texas 77002
   Telephone: (713) 989-2404
   Michael.Waters@energytransfer.com

What Should I Say?

When calling executives and elected officials, it’s a good idea to have one or two succinct ideas you want to express. An email or letter can be longer. A phone call will be brief, and you may reach a voicemail or an office manager, in which case you can leave a message. Here are some quick templates to give you idea for what to write or say when you contact someone about the DAPL:

I am calling/writing today to voice my opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. There is strong evidence that this pipeline will be dangerous and destructive to the communities surrounding it.

You could stop there (especially on the phone). Or, continue with something like:

This pipeline is less than a mile from Standing Rock Reservation and crosses the Missouri River. A break in the pipeline at that proximity to the river and surrounding community will be devastating. There were 300 oil pipeline breaks in North Dakota alone between 2012-2013. Given the statistics, there is a high chance the pipeline will break eventually. And when it does, it would ruin the drinking water that the surrounding communities and environment depend on for life and well-being.

Here is copy from the EarthJustice petition, that could extend the argument even further:

Oil pipelines break, spill and leak–it’s not a question of if, it’s a question of where and when. But the Army Corps never took a hard look at the impacts of an oil spill on the Tribe, as the law requires.

The pipeline would run through land that is sacred to the Tribe. The law requires that sacred sites be protected in consultation with the Tribe, but the Corps has not complied with that requirement, either.

Please don’t rush the Dakota Access Pipeline–the Corps must carefully consider all of the impacts to the tribe before issuing any approvals.

P.S. – Here is how you pronounce “Sioux”

Don’t wait to take action – Do it now.

There are literally 8,000 plus people from 180 different tribes actively protesting right now. Legal court battles are taking place now. The time for action on this issue is now.