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Dakota Access Pipeline won't be fined for oil spill in South Dakota

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Chairman Dave Archambault II of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe at the Native Nations Rise rally in Washington, D.C., on March 10, 2017. Photo by Indianz.Com / More on Flickr

The Dakota Access Pipeline spilled crude oil in South Dakota just as work on the controversial project was wrapping up.

A database on the South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources shows the location of the spill but further details aren't provided. The Aberdeen American News was the first to confirm the date of the incident -- April 4 -- and the amount of oil involved -- about 84 gallons.

The wealthy operators of the pipeline, though, won't be fined, the paper reported. The spill was reported and cleaned up within the required time frame, a scientist with the department told the paper.

Still, the report of the relatively minor spill raised alarms in Indian Country. Tribal leaders and activists say it's only a matter of time before Dakota Access causes significant harm.

The spill database on the website of the South Dakota Department of Environmental and Natural Resources shows the location of the Dakota Access Pipeline crude oil spill.

“The Dakota Access pipeline has not yet started shipping the proposed half million barrels of oil per day and we are already seeing confirmed reports of oil spills from the pipeline. This is what we have said all along: oil pipelines leak and spill,” Chairman Dave Archambault II of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Do we have more spills just waiting to happen? This is our home, our land and our water,” said Joye Braun, a citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in a statement provided by the Indigenous Environmental Network. “This just proves their hastiness is fueled by greed not in the best interest for tribes or the Dakotas”

Even though work on the pipeline is complete thanks to the Trump administration, Standing Rock and Cheyenne River leaders are still hoping to stop oil from flowing. They have motions pending in court to set aside the federal government's approval of the project but a hearing, if any, hasn't been scheduled as of Thursday morning.

A spokesperson for Energy Transfer Partners, the parent company of Dakota Access, has told the Associated Press that the pipeline is expected to be fully operational by June 1.

To view general information about the spill in South Dakota, enter "Dakota Access" in the "Site Name/Responsible Party" field of the spill database.

Read More on the Story:
Reaction on Dakota Access oil spill in Spink County (The Aberdeen American News 5/10)
Dakota Access pipeline leaked 84 gallons of crude oil in Spink County (The Aberdeen American News 5/10)
Dakota Access pipeline leaked 84 gallons of oil in April (AP 5/10)
Dakota Access Pipeline Springs a Small Leak in South Dakota (NBC News 5/10)
Dakota Access Pipeline spilled oil 84 gallons of oil in South Dakota (Reuters 5/10)