Over a dozen protesters were arrested Thursday and Friday opposing the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation.
The sheriff’s office in Morton County, North Dakota says most of the protesters arrested near a construction site of the Dakota Access pipeline north of Standing Rock Reservation are accused of disorderly conduct.
Many tribal governments in South Dakota are concerned about the environmental effects a pipeline spill could have on land and water resources like the Missouri River.
The Standing Rock tribe filed a lawsuit against the Corps of Engineers and the pipeline company. The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe is also filling a legal brief in support of the lawsuit.
Tamara St. John is the tribe’s archivist. She says those fighting against this pipeline are not standing alone.
“We are fully prepared to jump into this fight. And I understand that particularly for our Standing Rock relatives, it’s very dangerous that the Corps has issued permits especially on their northern border- that should there’s be a spill, and often in these things and you can see those in the news and the media, it’s not a matter of if there’s going to be spills, it’s almost a matter of when,” says St. John.
Officials with the Dakota Access Pipeline were not available to comment on tape after several attempts. But in an email a spokesperson did say the construction on the full route is expected to be complete by the end of this year.