Dakota Pipeline Case Study

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172 mile pipeline that will connect Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota to Patoka, Illinois. Once built it will transport approximately 470,000 barrels of oil per day; Shippers will be able to access multiple markets, including Midwest and East Coast markets as well as the Gulf Coast via the Nederland, Texas crude oil terminal facility of Sunoco Logistics Partners. The pipeline which was supposed to be completed at the end of 2016 would turn into millions in state and local revenue during the construction phase and an estimated $129 million annually in property income taxes. The pipeline is projected to generate an estimated Fifty million dollars annually in property taxes and nearly Seventy-Four million dollars in sales taxes to the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois for services to support schools, roads and more. …show more content…
The pipeline will be going right outside the Standing Rocks Sioux Tribes reservation. Per Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, developers building the Access Pipeline demolished an ancient burial site sacred to the Sioux (quoted by Morris). The main issue that would have the largest impact is the drinking water source and this potential contamination. The pipelines construction path is right under their water source. If the pipeline was to burst or have some sort of leak, it would contaminate their drinking water, along with destroying the natural habitat in the