Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Moves to Shut Down Dakota Access Pipeline Amid Environmental Concerns and Legal Challenges.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is seeking to shut down the Dakota Access pipeline, which carries about 6 percent of the country’s daily oil production and plays a significant role in the national debate over climate and domestic energy production. The company, Energy Transfer, has been operating under a lake managed by the federal government for years but its original easement was recently struck down by a court. Experts suggest that Energy Transfer’s environmental record, which includes spills, leaks and an explosion during construction of pipelines in Pennsylvania, could pose a significant legal challenge. The tribe has not yet formally raised this issue in their litigation with the Army Corps of Engineers. The proposed debarment of Energy Transfer and three corporate affiliates in 2022 has been postponed until the final decision is finalised.