Appeals court refuses to stop oil in Dakota Access pipeline

An appeals court has refused to stop the imminent flow of oil through the Dakota Access pipeline.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today denied a request from the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes for an emergency order. That means the pipeline to move North Dakota oil to Illinois could be operating as early as Monday.

The Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Sioux tribes have been trying to stop that from happening while their legal challenge against the pipeline proceeds.

The USD 3.8 billion pipeline will move North Dakota oil to Illinois. The tribes fear it could harm their water supply. Dallas-based pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners disputes that.