For Immediate Release
March 15, 2019
Press contact:
Dallas Goldtooth, dallas@ienearth.org
507-412-7609
Ninth Circuit Court Upholds Pre-Construction Injunction Against Keystone XL Pipeline
Indigenous Environmental Network Responds
Bemidji, MN – On Friday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected TransCanada’s motion to stay the injunction on conducting preliminary construction along the proposed route of the Keystone XL pipeline. This could possibly delay the start of construction by an entire year.
This decision reaffirmed a federal district judge’s order from November 2018 that overturned the Department of State’s approval of the tar sands pipeline project. The majority of pre-construction activities will not be allowed until the federal government revises its environmental impact statement and gives further direction for the project.
The following is a statement by the Indigenous Environmental Network Executive Director, Tom Goldtooth:
“This decision is a big step towards victory. The courts have sided with us. Oceti Sakowin, Umoⁿhoⁿ, and Ponca nations along the pipeline route stand with us. First Nations people at the source of the tar sands stand with us. It’s time for TransCanada to face the facts, the resistance to stop this dirty tar sands project is unified and not diminishing. In the defense of the sacred, we will continue to fight, until we win.”
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