Resolution of construction issues involving the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation has been postponed until at least September 9, as a U.S. District Court judge announced at a Wednesday, August 24 hearing that he would need until then to deliver a decision on a motion filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Earth Justice, an environmental law group.
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U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland moved the hearing scheduled on Thursday to September 8.
Last week a temporary federal court order state protesters cannot interfere with construction or threaten workers, but protesters sat they have a right to be there.
Many tribal nations from across the country are coming together – camping in North Dakota – in protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline construction.
Construction has been temporarily shut down until a federal court hearing.
Another protester, 42-year-old Grace Johnson of the Oglala Sioux tribe, said water and the land that the pipeline would cross are sacred.
In the meantime, tribes from across the country have pledged their support of the Standing Rock Sioux.
The pipeline that is slated to carry 470,000 to 570,000 barrels of crude oil per day is planned to cross the Missouri River a stone’s throw from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota.
Hendersen of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the Finding of No Significant Impact for the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Native Americans both in North Dakota and Marquette fear the pipeline could contaminate the river.
“It seems cool to know that I have some relatives that live far away in different places”, said Frankie Archambault. They said prayers for the water will continue this weekend near the camp site.
Eileen Williamson, a spokeswoman for the corps, said the corps does not make comments on ongoing litigation per agency policy.
The pipeline will cross the junction of the Cannonball and Missouri rivers, threatening Indigenous waterways and primary drinking sources.
“Everyone needs water and I’m very grateful to the Standing Rock Tribe for making this clear that this has to stop”, Sarandon told The Associated Press. “They were preparing to throw pipe bombs at our line, M80s, fireworks, things of that nature to disrupt us”, he elaborated in a news conference last week.
The board issued an order Wednesday requiring Dakota Access to provide detailed information about the progress of construction in Iowa and the cost the company will incur if it is required to work around the parcels.
Farmers in Iowa are also putting up a fight against the pipeline and asking the courts for an injunction against eminent domain proceedings.
Many in protest of the pipeline say they are defending the land peacefully.
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Earlier this month in Iowa, construction equipment at several construction sites was set on fire, causing more than $1 million in damage.
