Last week, 9 Iowa farmers and landowners fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline were in court challenging the granting of eminent domain to Energy Transfer Partners, owners of the pipeline. BOLD Iowa is supporting the landowners and opposing the project. State Director Ed Fallon says the court case has national implications and could be precedent setting.
He says the Polk County District Judge is expected to issue a ruling within a few weeks on their challenge. Fallon says both sides will likely appeal if the decision goes against them. He says there’s a lot at stake for landowners with this case.
Fallon says the best scenario with a favorable court ruling is Energy Transfer Partners could be required to remove the pipeline they’ve already constructed.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already stopped the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. However, the other states involved with the pipeline have already approved it including South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois.
