The Latest: Pipeline work hasn’t resumed in North Dakota

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Latest on the status of the construction oil pipeline owned by a Texas-based company (all times local):

2:30 p.m.

Construction on a four-state oil pipeline at a site in southern North Dakota near a Native American reservation has not yet resumed.

About 300 people are at a campsite where protesters from across the country and members of 60 tribes have gathered in opposition to the $3.8 billion pipeline that will pass through Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota. Six observers from Amnesty International are also present.

The pipeline’s Texas-based owners agreed last week to halt construction near the reservation until a hearing Wednesday in federal court. The judge said he’d rule by Sept. 9 on a request by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to stop construction near their reservation, which straddles the North Dakota-South Dakota border.

As of midday Thursday, construction had not resumed.

Dallas-based operator Energy Transfer Partners didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press regarding when construction could restart.

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1:30 p.m.

The Iowa Utilities Board has declined to take immediate action on a request by 14 landowners to halt construction of a four-state oil pipeline.

There is temporary stop on construction until Monday but the board met Thursday to hear two hours of arguments from Texas-based Dakota Access and the landowners on whether to order a more permanent delay.

The landowners have filed a lawsuit that challenges the board’s authority to allow eminent domain of their land for a privately owned pipeline project. That suit has not come before a court yet.

The $3.8 billion pipeline has generated legal challenges and protests in North Dakota and Iowa.

The board adjourned until 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and will meet again Friday afternoon. It gave no indication when it would vote.