API’s Jack Gerard calls on President-elect Trump to approve the Dakota Access Pipeline

WASHINGTON, December 4, 2016 – API President and CEO Jack Gerard called on President-elect Donald J. Trump to restore the rule of law in our nation’s regulatory regime and make the approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline a top priority when he takes office in January.

“Modernizing our nation’s energy infrastructure benefits American consumers by keeping energy affordable, creating well-paying American jobs, and improving our environment,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. “Moving forward, I am hopeful President-elect Trump will reject the Obama administration’s shameful actions to deny this vital energy project, restore the rule of law in the regulatory process, and make this project’s approval a top priority as he takes office in January.”

“I am troubled, though not surprised, that the Obama administration is again putting politics over sound public policy and ignoring the rule of law. The Dakota Access Pipeline went through an open, transparent, and established permitting process that was upheld twice by the courts, making this decision even more baffling. In just over one month, a new President and new administration can stand up for American consumers and American workers by approving this critical project. Following the rule of law in the regulatory process is critical for this and other infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, and electricity transmission lines.”

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.

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