Jay Timmons: Obama decision on DAPL ‘defies logic’

A leading manufacturing trade association is taking a hard line on President Barack Obama’s decision to deny the permits necessary for construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), calling it “misguided.”

In an official statement from National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons, the decision was derided as defying “logic, science and sound policy-decision making.” Timmons added the consequences would be measured “in lost work for manufacturers and those in the manufacturing supply chain.”

“If a project that has involved all relevant stakeholders and followed both the letter and spirit of the law at every step of this approval process can be derailed, what signal does that send to others considering building new energy infrastructure in this country?”

Timmons continued: “We can only hope that President-elect Trump will stand by his promises to invest aggressively in new infrastructure in America and start by overturning this misguided decision and allow the completion of the pipeline.”

Supporters of the pipeline argue it will create 8,000-12,000 temporary jobs, 40 permanent jobs, and lead the U.S. toward energy independence, but detractors claim it will harm conservation and preservation of threatened natural resources and endangered species.

More on company Energy Transfer Partners LP’s efforts to complete the pipeline can be found at this link.