The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a 1,172-mile underground oil pipeline that transports crude oil from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota to a terminal in Illinois. It was constructed to facilitate the movement of oil and reduce transportation costs, aiming to enhance energy independence in the United States. The pipeline has faced significant opposition from various groups, including environmental activists and Indigenous communities, particularly the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Concerns have been raised about potential oil spills and the impact on water sources, as well as the pipeline's route crossing sacred lands.