Dakota Access Pipeline Suit on Hold During Related Dispute

Energy Transfer Partners disputes the tribe’s claims and says the pipeline is safe. The pipeline would carry North Dakota oil 1,200 miles through the Dakotas and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois.

The Standing Rock Sioux and the Cheyenne River Sioux are challenging federal pipeline permits at numerous water crossings. The tribes earlier this month said they were willing to put their claims on hold until the fight between ETP and the Army is resolved, and Boasberg in a ruling dated Friday agreed to do so.

One reason for delaying the tribal challenge is to enable the court to focus on the Missouri River crossing dispute, which has stalled the project that was supposed to be done by the end of this year.

“Holding the tribes’ claims in abeyance will serve the interests of judicial economy by enabling Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, and the Corps and the court to focus on resolving the (river crossing matter) on an expedited basis,” said the joint proposal from the tribes and the Army Corps of Engineers that Boasberg approved.

Boasberg earlier this month gave the government until Jan. 6 to file its opposition to ETP’s request. Oral arguments won’t be held until at least February.