Landowners fill courtroom, urge judge to keep their legal battle against Keystone XL pipeline alive

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joe Duggan

O’NEILL, Neb. — Nebraska landowners fought Monday to keep alive their three-year legal battle to strike down a state law once used to approve the route for the Keystone XL pipeline.

Dozens of landowners filled an O’Neill courtroom to standing room only for an hourlong oral argument over a 2012 law that allows the governor to approve routes for major oil pipelines.

Attorneys for TransCanada Corp. asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the legal issues have become moot since the company recently decided to walk away from the approval it obtained in 2013 from former Gov. Dave Heineman. The company instead filed a new route application with the Nebraska Public Service Commission, a move long called for by pipeline opponents.

“There is nothing left for this court to decide,” said Omaha attorney James Powers, who represents TransCanada.

FULL story at link.


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
A stake in the ground wrapped with tape that marks the route of the Keystone XL pipeline in Tilden, Nebraska, on March 17, 2014.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/landowners-fill-courtroom-urge-judge-to-keep-their-legal-battle/article_1d4befd4-767a-11e5-9341-e3df8d9cc44f.html