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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