Bronson, I think it's relevant to see it in this context (and using this analogy):  

Say, you have a house with barely a yard around it.  North of your house and adjacent to your yard is an empty lot.  North of that empty lot is your neighbor's house/yard.  The City plans to build a sewer line just north of your neighbor's property and in its report, determines that the line will pose certain risks: constant sewage smell and possible leeching into the neighbor's yard.   

Your neighbor, a City official, uses his leverage to have the sewer line moved down-wind from his property, which now cuts across the empty lot.  The potential risks have been alleviated from your neighbor and are now placed on you.  Sure, the City has sewer lines everywhere, but this one has likelihood of affecting you.  Would you accept that without protest?   

With DAPL, the Sioux have decided to protest.  It's more about protesting a risk than it is protesting the existence of oil pipelines.