Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) condemned a decision allowing out of control anti-pipeline litigation to prevent pipeline projects that deliver affordable and reliable energy while putting Americans back to work. Earlier in the day, a federal district court in Washington, DC ordered the Dakota Access Pipeline shut down pending further study of its environmental impacts.
AOPL CONDEMNS DECISION SHUTTING DOWN PIPELINE OVER FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, July 6, 2020—Today, the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) condemned a decision allowing out of control anti-pipeline litigation to prevent pipeline projects that deliver affordable and reliable energy while putting Americans back to work. Earlier in the day, a federal district court in Washington, DC ordered the Dakota Access Pipeline shut down pending further study of its environmental impacts.
“These energy pipeline projects are too important to the American people to allow them to be disrupted by frivolous lawsuits and overreaching judicial decisions,” said Andy Black, President and CEO of AOPL.
The Dakota Access Pipeline has operated safely for over 3 years in compliance with extensive federal pipeline safety regulations. However, a court in Washington, DC has now agreed with groups harassing this project that the over 1,000 pages of environmental review conducted before the project was constructed was insufficient.
However, additional environmental review, which could be completed while the pipeline operates, will only reach the same conclusion of numerous previous reviews that pipelines are the safest way to deliver the energy Americans need and use every day. Meanwhile, if this decision is not reversed on appeal, the American people will be deprived of the affordable energy this pipeline delivers.
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