DAPL Update -- August 9, 2018

Link here.

A reader, with comments, alerted me to the article.

My thoughts:

1. With regard to the article, one has to consider the source. (The reader noted that the journalist said the DAPL crossed "over" the river; in fact it is buried "below" the river. Even 4-year-old Sophia understands the difference between "over" and "under." Not to be confused with the meaning when used by Jimmy the Greek.)

2. My hunch is the US Army Corps of Engineers is simply "dotting i's" and "crossing t's". Considering how slowly this bureaucratic agency generally works, they are moving along very, very quickly.

It would be hard for me to see how any person with common sense would see any risk to "hunting and fishing." At worse, I can imagine, the judge suggesting the parties involved to "strengthen" emergency response actions. I would also think the judge would want "hunting and fishing" to be quantified. Something tells me Standing Rock population is not engaged in many buffalo hunts these days, and I've never been impressed with any significant fishing by Native Americans in North Daktoa. The vast majority of anglers must be "rich" folks from Fargo and Grand Forks. (The reader noted, on this point: part of what the judge had ordered was defining possible damage to tribal hunting and fishing in case of an oil spill.  I am curious to see if the tribe can prove anybody eats anything that didn't come from the grocery store.)

3. But, wow, can you imagine the reaction in Bismarck if the pipeline was shut down?

4. By the way, back to the article. It certainly didn't sound like the writer held out any hope that things would be reversed. In the big scheme of things, and considering the source, it was a pretty bland article.

Actually, the judge needs to consider the risk to the environment (CBR spills) if the pipeline is now shut down.