Dave Archambault, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, stands outside court in Washington courthouse, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016, where appeals court judges heard his tribe's challenge to the Dakota Access pipeline. A federal appeals court panel had tough questions for opponents of the $3.8 billion, four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline who are arguing to keep a temporary stop of construction in place. (AP Photo/Jessica Gresko)
October 04, 2016 - 10:03 PM
WASHINGTON - A three-judge federal appeals court panel is set to hear a dispute over the $3.8 billion four-state Dakota Access oil pipeline.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is being asked to keep a temporary stop of construction in place while the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe appeals a lower-court ruling from September that didn't block the pipeline.
The same appeals court earlier issued a temporary injunction against construction for 20 miles on either side of the Missouri River at Lake Oahe (oh-AH'-hee) to give it time to consider the tribe's request. The pipeline is otherwise nearly complete.
The tribes say the construction and operation of the pipeline, which is being built by Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, would damage and destroy sites of historic, religious and cultural significance.
News from © The Associated Press, 2016