Army Corp Public Comment for DAPL Environmental Impact Study in Bismarck was Not Really so Public
- Nov 4, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 22, 2025
Written by James Hale, Prairie Band Potawatomi
This past Wednesday, November 1, I got on a bus in Minneapolis (thanks to MN350) going to Bismark, NF to #StandWithStandingRock and voice our concerns with the Draft EIS that the Army Corps FINALLY got around to after the #DakotaAccessPipeline has been operating illegally without one for the past 7 years.
It was supposed to be a public comment hearing and the Army Corps didn’t even show up. There was no panel to listen to folks testify, just a weird voting booth type set up where folks were made to enter individually to submit their comment to a stenographer. So basically, there was no “public” comment but “suppressed”comment from the public only for the Army Corps. it was like they didn’t want to hear us because they weren’t there and again, it felt like they were suppressing Indigenous voices and the voices of Standing Rock. So folks let their comments be known via bullhorn inside the building!
It’s ridiculous how many many discrepancies there STILL are with the Draft EIS. There STILL hasn't been any meaningful consultation with the #StandingRock or the #CheyenneRiver #SiouxTribes. It is STILL operating at TWICE its MAXIMUM capacity of 570,000 barrels a day to 1.1 million barrels per day. They are STILL violating the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's #TreatyRights. And there is STILL no emergency response plan in place should the #DAPL ever have a large scale leak.
We know that #ALLPIPELINESLEAK and #DAPL has already leaked at least 5 times!
I believe that the EIS should be done by an independent contractor and NOT the American Petroleum Institute who is obviously in the pocket of Energy Transfer Partners. So, until ALL these issues are addressed we must continue to demand that the Army Corps #ShutDowmDAPL!!!
This article by James Hale sheds light on the disheartening reality of "public" comments often being suppressed. It's a powerful reminder that vigilance is crucial when environmental decisions impact Indigenous rights and treaty obligations. For those looking to share their own stories, tools like Image to Prompt could be valuable for creative expression.
James Hale's account of the DAPL public comment session is truly frustrating, highlighting the continued disregard for indigenous voices and proper procedure. It's appalling that the Army Corps failed to show up. This piece effectively conveys the urgent need to #ShutDownDAPL. For those looking to easily share similar impactful stories, a tool like Markdown to PDF Converter could be quite useful for preparing documents.
This firsthand account of the DAPL public comment hearing is truly insightful, highlighting the continued disregard for Indigenous voices and treaty rights. It's frustrating to see such a critical process handled with so little transparency. We must keep demanding accountability from the Army Corps until these crucial issues are addressed. For those interested in unique transformations, check out Image to Pixel Art.
This article powerfully highlights the frustrating reality behind the "public" comment process for the DAPL. It's truly disheartening to see the Army Corps' blatant disregard for Indigenous voices and treaty rights. The call for an independent EIS and continued pressure to #ShutDownDAPL is absolutely vital. Thanks for sharing this important perspective! For those looking to refine their online content, check out AI Cleaner Text.
This article powerfully highlights the ongoing struggle for Indigenous voices to be heard regarding the DAPL. It's truly disheartening to read about the "suppressed comment" approach, especially given the serious concerns raised about treaty rights and environmental risks. We must continue to demand accountability. On a side note, for impactful visuals, I often recommend Free HD Photo Converter to enhance photos for clear communication.