While organizers in North Dakota and Iowa stand their ground against the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, another pipeline spilled 338,000 gallons of gasoline in Alabama on September 9. As a result, the southeastern U.S. is facing increased gas prices. Alabama, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee issued emergency declarations last week in anticipation of the price surges. Today, North Carolina joins them.
#Atlanta sees nation’s largest weekly #gasprice spike: 30c/gal, Greenville, SC up 27c, Athens, GA up 26c. Full list: pic.twitter.com/wCHRnxQ4rj
— Patrick DeHaan (@GasBuddyGuy) September 19, 2016
The Colonial Pipeline, which runs from Houston to New York, spilled into a retention pond from a nearby mining company. It came dangerously close to the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, home to five federally endangered or threatened species.
#NoDAPL water protects are using this spill to highlight what can happen with the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Colonial Pipeline accident has not currently been linked to any water contamination or health problems, however local residents are still on high alert, reported AL.com. “I am worried about the drinking water,” homeowner Billy McDanal told AL.com.
The Sacred Stone Camp, one of the locations water protectors are occupying against the Dakota Access Pipeline, posted the following Fusion video to their Facebook page in response to the spill and wrote, "This is exactly what we worry about. Keep it in the ground!"