Stephanie Keith/Reuters
The Obama administration is set to approve the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) project to begin as early as the beginning of next week, sources told Politico. The oil pipeline is set to be built across the Missouri River, near the Standing Rock Sioux's reservation in North Dakota–a source of consternation for human rights and environmental activists and protesters in recent months. Many believe that the green-lighting of the $3.7 billion dollar project is related to the election of Republican nominee Donald Trump who would eventually approve the project anyhow. The announcement, however, is expected to escalate conflicts at the Dakota Access protest site, which may lead the Obama administration to postpone its decision until later next week.