On Nov. 1, in an interview with NowThis, President Obama said he believes alternative paths for the Dakota Access Pipeline are being considered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NPR reports.
“I think right now the Army Corps is examining whether there are ways to reroute this pipeline in a way,” said the president.
He continued:
“So we’re going to let it play out for several more weeks and determine whether or not this can be resolved in a way that I think is properly attentive to the traditions of the first Americans.”
President Obama’s words contradict those of Vicki Granado, the spokesperson for Energy Transfer Partners, the company building the Dakota Access Pipeline.
“We are not aware that any consideration is being given to a reroute,” she said, following the publication of President Obama’s interview, “and we remain confident we will receive our easement in a timely fashion.”
Members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe are attempting to end progress on a section of the pipeline that the tribe says would interrupt sacred sites and burial places, and also place the tribe in danger of an oil spill that could ruin their water supply.
On Nov. 2 police officers struck protesters of the pipeline with pepper spray and tear gas, when the protesters neared land in North Dakota owned by Energy Transfer Partners. On Sept. 4 Democracy Now! released video of police attacking protesters with dogs and pepper spray.
Days after the release of the video report, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Amy Goodman, the host of Democracy Now!, who was at the protest when dogs were used against protesters and led Democracy Now!’s reporting on the incident.
However, after accusations that the warrant was at odds with the freedom of press, the warrant was annulled.
Got something to say about what you're reading? We value your feedback!