API CEO slams Obama administration's intervention to halt pipeline work

The Dakota Access Pipeline was the focus of a recent discussion between API President and CEO Jack Gerard and North America’s Building Trades Unions President Sean McGarvey.

The executives discussed energy infrastructure's benefits and the Obama administration's actions in connection with the pipeline. In addition, as well as the potential impacts on U.S. consumers and workers, and the rule of law.

“Infrastructure plays a critical role in maintaining and growing America’s energy renaissance, and it’s important that our energy infrastructure is able to meet the needs of consumers and our growing economy,” Gerard said.

“With the Dakota Access Pipeline, the administration’s recent attempts to change the rules, in the middle of the game, set a dangerous precedent for our country that could threaten other infrastructure projects, like bridges, roads and electricity transmission. Moving forward, it’s critical that the rule of law is followed as the need for new energy infrastructure grows.”

McGarvey agreed with Gerard's assessment of recent events, in which the Obama administration overruled a federal judge who refused to grant an injunction to stop work on the pipeline.

“We are deeply disturbed by the unprecedented action taken by President Obama to supersede the decision of a federal court judge and halt the lawful construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline project,” McGarvey said.

“Union members have been relying on these excellent, family-supporting, middle-class jobs with family health care, pensions, and good wages for over six months. The administration’s attempts to shut down construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline show that it is putting politics ahead of the rule of law. We fear that President Obama has now set a dangerous precedent, where political considerations can now thwart or delay every single infrastructure project moving forward.”

 API provides most of America’s energy and is supported by a growing grassroots group of more than 30 million citizens. In addition, API is the sole national trade association representing each aspect of the oil and natural gas sector, which creates 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the nation’s economy. The more than 650 members associated with API include large integrated companies, exploration and production, as well as refining, marketing, pipeline, marine businesses, and service and supply firms.