The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments (Wednesday) in a lawsuit by landowners against the Iowa Utilities Board for allowing the use of eminent domain to acquire land for the Dakota Access oil pipeline. Attorney Bill Hannigan argued for the landowners.

Hannigan says natural gas pipelines have federal eminent domain protection  — but Congress has never provided the same to oil pipelines — indicating interstate commerce is not an issue. Attorney Brent Dublinske represents the Iowa Utilities Board and says the pipeline has been operating safely and efficiently for 15 months.

He says the I-U-B followed the law as it is set out.

The Supreme Court will release its ruling at a later date.