Pipeline

Greenpeace Challenges $667 Million Jury Verdict in Dakota Access Pipeline Case, Claims Damages Are Unjustified

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BISMARCK, N.D. — Greenpeace has requested a North Dakota judge to lower the nearly $667 million damage award granted to the developers of the Dakota Access Pipeline, arguing that the sum is excessive and unwarranted. The request comes after a Morton County jury decided the environmental organization was responsible for damages caused during protests in 2016 and 2017, along with defamation claims against Energy Transfer. Following a trial that lasted over three weeks, the jury determined that Greenpeace, alongside other activist groups, played a significant role in the protests that drew thousands to support the … Read more

Legal Battle Surges Over Waivers for California Offshore Oil Pipeline Amid Environmental Concerns

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The Office of the State Fire Marshal faces legal action over its decision last December to grant operational waivers to Texas-based Sable Offshore, enabling the oil firm to resume oil production off the Gaviota Coast without certain anti-corrosion protections. The issue stems from the controversial restart of a pipeline that was central to the massive 2015 Refugio oil spill, prompting a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC). In December, waivers issued by the fire marshal allowed Sable Offshore to operate the pipeline without cathodic protection, a critical safety feature designed … Read more

South Dakota Landowners Rally Against Pipeline Company’s Aggressive Legal Tactics

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Pierre, SD – A major pipeline company’s extensive strategy to sue landowners in South Dakota has encountered significant resistance, marking a pivotal development in the ongoing conflict over land use and rights. The pushback comes from a group of determined landowners who are challenging the company’s lawsuits, which are part of its effort to secure land for a new pipeline project. The company in question has filed numerous lawsuits against local landowners to obtain the necessary land through eminent domain. This legal power allows entities to compel the sale of private land for public use, … Read more

Midwest Pipeline Project Faces Backlash Over Eminent Domain Lawsuits in South Dakota

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MANSFIELD, S.D. — A proposed pipeline project meant to transport carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants across five Midwest states to underground storage in North Dakota has sparked significant legal and political controversy. The undertaking, spearheaded by Summit Carbon Solutions, has entailed numerous lawsuits against landowners, particularly in South Dakota, where resistance has escalated to government action to restrict the company’s legal recourse. The heart of the issue lies in the method of acquiring land for the project through eminent domain, a legal principle that allows for the appropriation of private property, albeit with compensation. … Read more