Stop Big Oil from Using Loopholes

Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, Commander and Chief of Engineers

We know there is no such thing as a safe pipeline.

For years, Indigenous tribes and local communities have been challenging these polluting, leaking nightmares – including the Keystone XL and Byhalia pipelines – and speaking out for their right to clean air and safe water. And for years, we’ve been speaking out alongside them.

Now, the US Army Corps of Engineers is formally reviewing the Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12, which authorizes oil and natural gas pipeline activities. The NWP 12 has been key in allowing companies to bypass environmental reviews and public input to construct pipelines in certain circumstances. In fact, the Byhalia pipeline, a crude oil pipeline designed to connect two existing pipelines stretching from Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast, used NWP 12 before public pressure made it too costly to continue.

This is a critical moment to stop Big Oil from using these loopholes and harming our communities. The comment period is open to the public until May 27 and we need your voice today.

Tell the US Army Corps of Engineers to only issue permits based on sound science, considerations and ramifications of the climate and environmental justice impacts, and extensive input from all impacted communities.

To: Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon, Commander and Chief of Engineers
From: [Your Name]

Dear Lieutenant General Scott A. Spellmon:

We’re pleased to see that the US Army Corps of Engineers is formally reviewing the Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12, which authorizes oil and natural gas pipeline activities.

We’ve seen Big Oil use NWP 12 to bypass environmental reviews and public input in areas where these reviews and public comments are most critical. For example, the Byhalia pipeline proposed by Valero and Plains All American would have cut through historic Black neighborhoods in southwest Memphis and threatened a nearby drinking water well field.

We ask that all permits going forward are based on sound science, considerations and ramifications of the climate and environmental justice impacts, and extensive input from all impacted communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration,