Army, 2 other U.S. departments againseek pause on controversial pipeline
Actress Shailene Woodley (left) is led to a transport vehicle by a Morton County Sheriff's deputy after being arrested at a
protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline near St. Anthony, North Dakota, October 10, 2016. Tom Stromme/The
Bismarck Tribune via AP
The U.S. government repeated its request Monday that construction of an oil pipeline in
North Dakota be paused. A delay would allow authorities to consider the effects of its route
on a Native American tribe.
An oil pipeline is used to transport crude oil over large distances where it can then be
used for energy. The oil is transported underground using a series of pipes and valves.
The Dakota Access Pipeline has been the subject of a monthslong protest. Native
Americans and their supporters have camped out in the state's prairie lands to block the
pipeline's route. The pipeline is set to go under the Missouri River and the adjoining man-
made Lake Oahe.
The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says the project threatens its drinking water source and
could destroy ancient sacred sites. The tribe's reservation is less than a mile from the
pipeline.
By Agence France-Presse, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.13.16
Word Count 571
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Judge Says No To Tribe
A month ago, the federal government made a request to the pipeline's operator. It asked
the operator, Energy Transfer Partners, to pause construction within 20 miles (32
kilometers) of the disputed area. More time would give authorities a chance to look into the
tribe's claims.
But a federal appeals court on Sunday said no to the tribe's request to pause construction.
An appeals court hears arguments after a lower court has made a decision. The appeals
court decision caused the Departments of Justice, Army and Interior to again issue a
statement of support. The Army controls the permitting process for some U.S. waterways.
"We also look forward to a serious discussion during a series of consultations ... on
whether there should be nationwide reform on the tribal consultation process for these
types of infrastructure projects," the statement said.
Hollywood Gets Involved
The standoff between the Sioux tribe and the pipeline's builder has grown into a protest
movement. Indian tribes, environmentalists and supporters of Native Americans have been
involved.
The protest has also received support from famous people in Hollywood, including
Leonardo DiCaprio and Susan Sarandon.
Actress Shailene Woodley was arrested Monday while participating in a protest, reportedly
along with about 200 others near a pipeline construction site. Woodley appeared in
the "Divergent" film series.
She was charged with criminal trespass and engaging in a riot, the Morton County Sheriff's
Department said. She posted a $500 fine and is due in court on October 24.
Protest Video Goes Viral
Woodley broadcast the protest and her arrest live on Facebook, showing police with
armored vehicles and riot gear. The video had gotten almost 2.4 million views by early
evening.
"Oh my God, there's so much riot police. ... They all have batons. ... I'm shaking, this is so
scary," Woodley says in the video.
She speaks as she's being placed under arrest. "They grabbed me by my jacket and said I
couldn't continue and they have giant, like, guns and batons and zip ties and they're not
letting me go," she says.
Dozens of police can be seen wearing helmets and bulletproof vests, and armed with
rifles.
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Pipeline Would Traverse 4 States
A total of 27 people were arrested, Sheriff's Department spokesman Rob Keller
told Agence France-Presse.
There have been clashes over the last several months among protesters, pipeline workers
and police. A total of 123 arrests were made, authorities said.
If fully constructed, the pipeline would pass through four states. It would carry oil extracted
in North Dakota near the Canadian border, 1,172 miles southeast to Illinois.
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Quiz
1 Which section of the article BEST shows how Shailene Woodley affected the protest
movement?
(A) “Judge Says No To Tribe”
(B) “Hollywood Gets Involved”
(C) “Protest Video Goes Viral”
(D) “Pipeline Would Traverse 4 States”
2 Select the paragraph from the introduction [paragraphs 1-4] that explains why Native
Americans are protesting the pipeline.
3 In which of the following sentences from the article does the author acknowledge a differing
point of view?
(A) The U.S. government repeated its request Monday that construction of an oil
pipeline in North Dakota be paused.
(B) But a federal appeals court on Sunday said no to the tribe's request to
pause construction.
(C) The Standing Rock Sioux tribe says the project threatens its drinking water
source and could destroy ancient sacred sites.
(D) Actress Shailene Woodley was arrested Monday while participating in a
protest, reportedly along with about 200 others near a pipeline construction
site.
4 How does the author convey the intense nature of the protests against the oil pipeline
construction?
(A) by showing what the protesters are willing to do to stop the construction
(B) by explaining in detail the environmental impacts of the pipeline
(C) by listing the reasons the pipeline should not be built
(D) by describing the importance of the different causes celebrities support
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