what is the purpose of the dakota access pipeline
Dakota Access Pipeline The ETP desires the pipeline to provide an outlet for oil to be transferred across the country and then sold to international countries and corporations.[citation needed] Dakota Access, LLC's planning applications argued that the pipeline improves the overall safety to the public, would help the US to attain energy independence, and is a more reliable and safer method of transport to refineries than rail or road. Proponents have argued that the pipeline will free up railroads, which will allow farmers to ship more Midwest grain.[13] About 70% of Bakken oil is transported by rail because of pipeline limitations.[14] As of July 2014[update] Bakken shale oil was transported through nine Iowa counties exclusively via three freight trains per week.[15] As of June 2014, 32 trains per week carrying Bakken oil traveled through Jo Daviess County in northwestern Illinois.[14]