Mike Doyle’s new traveling companions include an episcopalian priest from Pittsburgh and a veteran from Montana. PHOTO: MIKE DOYLE
Monday, Dec. 5, update: Despite Sunday’s announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that it would not grant permits to Dakota Access’ parent company, Energy Transfer Partners, to tunnel under the Missouri River and complete the pipeline, Mike Doyle decided to follow through with his travel plans. But the weather seemed to have other ideas.
A blizzard prevented his flight from landing in Bismarck, the city closest to Standing Rock. The plane instead landed in Fargo, about 200 miles east. Doyle made quick traveling companions with an Episcopalian priest from Pittsburgh and a veteran from Montana, who agreed to rent an SUV and drive to the campgrounds.
Halfway there, the travelers met a roadblock on Interstate 94 due to heavy snow conditions. They booked a hotel room in Jamestown for the night. Meanwhile, Doyle tracked online reports from Standing Rock.
“I was initially assuming everything would be celebratory and looking towards breaking the camp down,” he told the Times. “Now it appears that (authorities) will ask out-of-state allies to return home for the winter. This Army Corps announcement seems to be more geared toward clearing the camps out for winter. However, many indigenous people will stay the winter. Supplies are still needed and my mission is still pertinent. This could be considered the quiet before the storm! When Trump takes office, this fight could very well become a powder keg for sure.”
Doyle noted that Energy Transfer Partners and its partner in the project, Sunoco Logistics, had issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the proposed pipeline route. The demonstrators fear that the new Trump administration will advocate for the completion of the pipeline when the new president takes office in January.
For more on Mike Doyle’s trip to Standing Rock, read the original article here:
www.bsmphilly.com/2016/dec/3/treading-water/#.WEdKJiMrLyg
Mike Doyle is bringing supplies to the campers at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. PHOTO: MIKE DOYLE
Mike Doyle arrives in Fargo, North Dakota, amid blizzard conditions. PHOTO: MIKE DOYLE
