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Bear Pipeline Case Study

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Bear Pipeline Case Study
One recent autumn evening while I stood in line to comment at a public hearing about a proposed natural gas pipeline through Virginia, I befriended an inspirational environmental advocate by the name of Bear Redstar. Bear grew up in a Lakota family as a part of the Dakotas’ seven Sioux tribes. Bear’s initial exposure to the destructive potential of a pipeline occurred while he worked as a welder for ExxonMobil on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, where he witnessed the steel pipe rupture and release crude oil into the environment. Upon his return home, he advocated alongside Native American community members against the Dakota Access Pipeline. A few months ago Mr. Redstar, moved to Roanoke, Virginia, again facing the trouble of a pipeline. He and I were at the public hearing to warn the Appalachian community of the risks associated with a pipeline.

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