A federal appeals court is moving closer to temporarily stopping the operations of the Dakota Access Pipeline until future court action is determined. South Dakota and North Dakota farm groups have been weighing in on the importance of keeping the pipeline operating as they say closing it could escalate the costs of shipping commodities. South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal says if Dakota Access isn’t allowed to operate and with a big harvest on the way, it’ll jam up rail availability.
Recently the Court said it will consider an injunction to halt pipeline operations because Dakota Access doesn’t currently have an easement. VanderWal says that issue should have been dealt with initially during the court debate.
He says having this whole debate tied up in court just creates more uncertainty for agriculture that’s already seen so much of that already this year.
The Dakota Agricultural groups have asked the court to stay the District Court’s ruling which allowed DAPL to continue operating.
