The protesters are [mostly] gone.
That's what counts.
The pipeline will go through.
This was much sound and fury, that signified nothing...
Oh, it signified something.
$22 million plus in law enforcement costs.
A damaged bridge.
One of the protesters severely damaged her arm. If she keeps it, she'll carry that reminder for the rest of her life.
A million plus in equipment damaged or destroyed by protesters.
Every day, the oil companies, the royalty (mineral rights) holders (usually at 20%), and the State of North Dakota (11.5%) did not get the difference between rail transport costs and pipeline transport costs amounting to roughly $2.4 million dollars (per day, with the pipeline running at 475,000 BOPD. (the anticipated operating volume).
Feeder pipeline projects have been delayed, idling construction crews and putting people out of work.
Less tangibly, the $5/barrel in transport savings could spur more development as it would effectively be an increase in the price of oil actually collected by the oil companies, the mineral royalty owners, and the State of North Dakota, which would mean an increase in activity and more jobs/hours for those still employed.
So, yeah, the assholes who claimed to be "water protectors" (the latest 'reason' for protesting when the word got out the other reasons were, well, bogus) have cost
Tally it up.
147 days at $2.4 million dollars a day (estimated amount does not include costs to contractors) =$352.8 million, of which $70.56 million would have gone to royalty interest holders (often the landowners where oil wells were drilled), and $40.72 million not collected by the State of ND.
$22 million in state and local law enforcement costs.
An estimated 419 million in lost revenue for the pipeline company (gross, for shipping the oil).
And a million in damages to contractor's equipment.
Over 794 million dollars so far...not counting cleanup costs and other less tangible expenses.