Accordingly, the Army will not grant an easement to cross Lake Oahe at the proposed location based on the current record. The robust consideration of reasonable alternatives that I am directing, together with analysis of potential spill risk and impacts, and treaty rights, is best accomplished, in my judgment, by preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that satisfies the accompanying procedures for broad public input and analysis.
Time will tell. Meanwhile, we must ramp up local, national and international pressure to assure an EIS is done and to assure it is done with full public input and indisputable evidence. Remember, the Standing Rock (SR) movement was never about just the Dakota Access Pipeline but rather against the greedy oil industry's unnecessary extractions and continual contamination of water. The unprecedented joining of American "Indians" and America's "settlers" was molded by a fire fueled by memories about who we really are as humans. It was sparked by a youthful, passionate determination in behalf of life itself and sustained by insightful, courageous people of all ages. The temporary and equally unprecedented victory over the insidious and powerful oil industry and the governmental forces it controls has given hope to others working for clean air and water around the globe.
There is no doubt that Energy Transfer Partners will continue with all the deception and corruption and disregard for ethics or law that money can buy. Whatever spiritual, religious or philosophical orientation operates in the reader's psyche, now it is more important than ever to exercise your personal authority and become truly conscious of your relationship with the universe. Not everyone will be able to do this. The chains of unconscious and/or socialized preconceptions and fears are strong. But for those with the courage to allow truth to prevail there will be a realization that love of life is an extension of love of Nature. Such a realization will flood all dimensions of time and continue the powerful, prayerful phenomenon that we all observed at Standing Rock.
Unfortunately there are still too many of us don't know what price we are paying for the status quo and neoliberal policies that may worsen. Large and small environmental catastrophes are happening everywhere. I just learned that last week as many as 25,000 snow geese landed in a Montana lake and died "melted" in its acidic wastewater. The birds made a forced landing in what has been referred to as the "Berkeley Pit" because they had started their migration too late owing to "climate change"- the scientific phenomenon that our new president and his newly appointed director of the EPA do not believe exists. Today the toxic waters of this lake are almost a mile above sea level and only about 82 feet below where it will begin entering Butte Montana's drinking water supply. When Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) stopped operating a copper mine in 1982 the lake was 150 feet lower.
Such events are likely to increase significantly under the new administration of Donald Trump where he has made the proverbial "fox guarding the henhouse" phrasing a potentially tragic reality. Standing Rock may have to be the point of focus with which we can turn this around.
Mini Wiconia! Water is Life!
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