And still, anti-DAPL propaganda has pushed this idea that north-of-Bismarck route was superior and that the only reason it was rejected was that whitey complained. Which is patently false.
In other words, the applications for permits initially were for the Bismarck route but the applications made to the North Dakota PSC didn't include it because by the time it was necessary to seek approval at the state level, the Dakota Access LLC had already been forced to go with an alternate route.
It could be that they had several alternatives lined up for the Corps of Engineers. I don't know the details of the application process. \
But I do know that the north-of-Bismarck route is inferior in every way. Contrary to propaganda.
It is. It is longer, it crosses more waterways, it does not follow an existing pipeline route, it goes through more densely populated and developed areas, which means getting easements from many owners of small parcels rather than from few owners of sprawling ranches, it means digging up more roads, etc. The
only benefit to the north-of-Bismarck route is that it is somewhat further away from the reservation.
There was just more effective pushback from Bismarck
There is no evidence of any "pushback from Bismarck".
and approval for rerouting it closer to the Standing Rock Reservation was rushed.
There is no evidence that anything was rushed.
And anyway, that doesn't affect it having been chosen by Dakota Access LLC as the route they wanted to follow when they submitted their applications for permits, i.e. their preferred route.
There is no evidence the north-of-Bismarck route was 'preferred' by the company. And as a matter of fact, if it was, they should fire whoever made that determination.
