When Will the Dakota Access Pipeline Be Finished?

Stretching for more than 1000 miles under the United States, the Dakota Access Pipeline is controversial to say the least. Environmentalists have slammed the pipeline for its threat to the ecosystem, while Native American activists have vowed to fight the project in a bid to protect their water supply, which is at risk of contamination.

While the majority of the pipeline has been finished, the section that runs under the Lake Oahe region of the Missouri River has been hotly contested. Massive protests from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe have stalled completion, with campaigners upholding that the pipeline will affect the area's drinking water supply, as well as the 17 million people that live downstream.

Trump flexes his muscles

But despite fierce opposition, law makers have confirmed that work will resume on the Dakota Access Pipeline.  Following President Trump’s January 24 order, the acting secretary of the Army now holds the power to review requests for approvals regarding the construction and operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Potentially, the directive could veto the environmental review and fast-track the easement application.

"The assistant secretary for the Army Civil Works will make a decision on the easement once a full review and analysis is completed in accordance with the directive," commented Army Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost in a statement.

Rep. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican has also confirmed that approval is "imminent,” and that the Army Corps is on the brink of giving the green light.

Protestors gear up to fight

Following these comments, protestors are gearing up to front another legal battle, with hundreds of arrests already taking place.

"When it does -- and that could be tomorrow or next week or longer -- there certainly will be a lawsuit filed to determine the legality of it," warns Jan Hasselman of Earthjustice, the group representing the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

As there is currently no permission to build, he maintains that any progress will be a violation of the law. He also accuses President Trump of making decisions based on his personal investments, as opposed to the needs of his people.  

"To abandon the (environmental impact statement) would amount to a wholly unexplained and arbitrary change based on the President's personal views and, potentially, personal investments," he comments on behalf of the the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.

So will the pipeline go ahead? The answer is still unclear, though it is certain that the Trump administration will be taking a drastically different approach to America’s energy and environmental issues.

Trump may not be playing by the rules, but new guidelines are ensuring that Formula One teams race with an eco-friendly edge. For the latest updates, ‘Characterizing Fuel by Gas Chromatography: Making Sure that INDYCAR Race Teams are Playing by the Rules’ is a must read article.