A lawsuit challenging a border crossing permit for the Keystone XL pipeline is on hold after Pres. Joe Biden canceled the permit last month.
Great Falls Judge Brian Morris granted a 60 day stay of motion Wednesday while parties consider whether to go ahead with the lawsuit in light of Biden’s executive order.
Among the parties to file the joint request were Pres. Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Canadian developer TC Energy, the Rosebud Sioux tribe and the Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
The tribes’ lawsuit was one of several aimed at stopping the pipeline due to concerns about contaminating water, tribal treaty rights and man camps introducing human trafficking into communities.
Parties have until the beginning of April to tell the court if they wish to proceed with the lawsuit.
