The Construction of the Gas Pipeline in North Dakota - Essay Example

Introduction

The North Dakota Access Pipeline was for the first time announced in the year 2014 and since then, opposition to its construction has been gradually gaining momentum and currently it has transitioned into a protest of high profile. Despite the existence of the high voltage protests against the project, its proponents point at its economic gains while on the other hand the opponents highlight the social and environmental impacts that the project poses to the people living in the region of North Dakota. The region in question has a very high potential of oil which was first discovered in the 1950s and the United States Geological Survey approximates that the region has about 7.5 billion oil barrels. The project is to be 1172 miles and it is anticipated to transport almost a half a million crude oil barrels on a daily basis. there are various reasons that have been raised against the various groups with regards to the construction of this project all of which hold a lot of water and therefore the experts involved have to consider and address the concerns raised prior to the actualization of the project to avoid the dangers that will come with it if it is carried out as per the original blueprint that is causing havoc. In this brief, I stand against the construction of this oil pipeline project through this region based on the following considerations.

High fatality rate in the oil and gas industry countrywide

It is on record based on the latest report by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , about one half of the employees who succumb to death as a result of being involved in the motor vehicle accidents were not putting on safety belts. This high-risk culture is partly contributed by the poor attitude of the workers who operate under the assumption that they can use shortcuts to accomplish smaller tasks ignoring the health and safety concerns that should be observed at all costs and without any assumptions that have the potential of exposing them to risks of harm. It is the responsibility of the employer not only to provide the personal protective equipment to the employees but also to ensure that the health and safety tools provided are used in the required manner while within the working environment without taking any chances. it is on record that North Dakota is the most risky oil and gas state and due to this high risk of exposure, it is only prudent that the program be halted till such risks are dealt with and the people involved in the activities of the industry are enlightened on the necessity of observing all the health and safety requirements. people should not expose themselves to any risky situations under whichever reason and it is the responsibility of the leadership in charge to ensure that the people in North Dakota are guaranteed of their safety and that they are inducted into the importance and the usage of the health and safety apparatus as they are applied in the oil and gas industry before the program is allowed to proceed. The construction of the oil and gas terminus in this area without taking the abovementioned steps will expose the workers to the highest life threatening risks ever.

Disturbance of sacred grounds and burial grounds

The construction of the oil pipeline at North Dakota at the proposed location poses a great likelihood of disturbing both the burial grounds alongside the sacred lands. This is equivalent to interfering with the cultural practices of the people resident in North Dakota by interfering with the sacred grounds that mark an important cultural practice of worship which is part of the identity of the people. Furthermore, the destruction of the burial grounds on the pretext of constructing an oil pipeline should not be tolerated due to the cultural and ethical consequences that come with such actions. It is a deep seated culture of any society to pay ultimate respect to their dead and destroying their graves and the burial ground at large is tantamount to overturning this cultural aspect that is so sacred to be treated with such casualness. It is not in denial that the construction of the oil pipeline will bring economic benefits to the people of North Dakota; the only issue is that such a program should not be used to destabilize and interfere with the well established cultural practices that have been in place since time immemorial.

Environmental impact of thee pipeline

The construction of the North Dakota pipeline will have a severe environmental impact given that the project will run under the Missouri River which is the only source of clean drinking water to the community. No community can survive without r clean water since this is the source of livelihood to both human beings and animals. The environmental impact assessment report based on the implementation project well captures this hazard if it is left to be executed in its current state. The destruction of this water source is going to bring about negative externalities to the people surrounding who will be involved in seeking alternative sources of clean water for human consumption. For this reason, it is imprudent for the project to continue in its current state since it will cause more harm than good to the people.

Limited economic benefits

Based on the statistics being provided for, the economic benefits that the project will import to the region of North Dakota are being overstated. The jobs that are being anticipated to be created owing to the successful completion of the project to the people have been blown out of proportion hence the need to reevaluate the entire project once again in terms of its utility and value proposition to the people prior to the commencement of the implementation exercise. Any project that is to be initiated in any particular region should bring benefits to the people without causing them of any destructive effects both economic wise and environmental effects. the experts involved based on this fact should seek for an alternative route for the construction of the pipeline and abandon the original plan that has the unlimited potential of being destructive to the people.

Oil spillage

The experts have expressed their fears of the fact that the construction of the oil pipeline along the identified region is likely to bring about oil spillage. This is a dangerous environmental disaster that is going to be felt all the living things and as such, the project should not be allowed to continue for whichever reason. The oil spillage has the capacity to destroy the plants and pollute the water and the soil that is being used for agricultural purposes. This will mean further sufferings both in terms of health and also economically to the people of North Dakota. The pollution effect due to the oil spills is going to bring about serious negative externalities to the people living within the vicinity of the project. They will have to continue incurring hefty medical costs as they seek treatment for the diseases that are going to result from the pollution effects caused by the oil spills.

Contaminated water poses a serious health hazards

According to the detailed report from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute which focused on the impacts of three key oil spills established that there are increased incidences of cancer alongside other digestive problems in individuals who have directly ingested oil in drinking water or rather indirectly through the consumption of meat of the livestock that have had a prior exposure to oil (Emily, G. (2014). Moreover, individuals who had used water that had been contaminated for taking bath or for laundry purposes appeared to go through increased incidences of skin related problems or health complications such as mild rashes to both lasting and severe eczema and malignant cancers of the skin. This is what the people of North Dakota will be exposed to when the construction of the oil pipeline is allowed to continue. the lives of the people will be put on the line since there is no way that they will survive without using water from the main source which faces the high risk of being contaminated.

Reflection

It is true that the North Dakota Access Pipeline construction has raised a lot of issues that are pertinent to the lives of the people living within the region. Such issues as raised are fundamental and direct affect the daily lives of the people hence the need for the relevant authorities and experts to reevaluate the project prior to moving to the implementation state. Based on the various reports alongside the environmental impact assessment report concerning the project, the negative impacts of the project on the people outweigh the benefits hence the need to ensure that an alternative route is established. The destruction of the cultural heritage of the residents of this place who have been living in harmony and in full observance of their ancient cultural practices is not a simple matter that should be left to be destroyed by an oil pipeline that is not going to realize significant benefits to the people resident within this area. Issues such as water pollution of the only source of clean drinking water to the society are not a small thing that can be rubbished. The health and safety of the people ought to be given the great priority while undertaking such projects since nothing warrants taking or risking human life based on the fact that it cannot be quantified.

Such issues as raised in the various reports concerning the side effects of the project ought to be addressed and proper measures be put in place instead of letting the project take some political dimensions that have made people to lose objectivity concerning the issues raised by both the residents and the experts involved in such environmental issues that are always synonymous with such projects. It is proper for the matter to be approached with absolute sobriety and objectivity and as such it will be very simple for the people to come up with an amicable solution which includes the establishment of an alternative route for the project.

In brief, the proposed pipeline route is posing severe threats to the lives of the people living in North Dakota especially those within the vicinity of the proposed project if left to continue in its original blue print. The effects therein will extend to both humanity and animals hence posing a serious threat to the environment. It is on record that both man and environment support each other and none can do without the other. most of the current human problems are as a result of not taking good care of the environment hence qualifying the fact that the destructive nature of human activities are responsible for the current cases of environmental degradation that have posed serious threats to the very survival of man. issues such as the destruction of the clean water sources, the destruction of the burial grounds and the sacred lands are both environmental, social and cultural and as such, they ought to be addressed instead of trying to use force and state machinery to construct such projects that have the full potential of endangering human life both now and in the future owing to the destructive effects that is likely to be caused to the environment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are serious concerns that ought to be addressed by the authorities involved prior to the construction of this oil pipeline project through the proposed region owing to the severity of the social and environmental impacts that its implementation is likely to bring to the residents of North Dakota. The environmental assessment report on this project is also against the implementation of this project based on the negative effects that it is going to cause the environment. the cultural and the social aspects of the people resident in this region are going to be severely impacted upon and as such, it is important to seek the alternative solutions such as the construction of this oil pipeline through other regions that are less prone to such risks. It is in my informed opinion based on the aforementioned arguments that the North Dakota Access Pipeline Project should not be allowed till all the concerns raised are addressed.

Reference

•  Emily, G. (2014). Dark Side Of The Boom: What Makes North Dakota Oil And Gas So Dangerous? Retrieved From Http://Insideenergy.Org/2014/09/16/Dark-Side-Of-The-Boom-What-Makes-North-Dakota-Oil-And-Gas-Ao-Dangerous/