The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals hears arguments in Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, No, 20-5201, on November 4, 2020.

Arguments took place before a panel of three judges. They were:

At issue in the appeal is a requirement for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete an environmental impact study of the final portion of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The final portion is located near the North Dakota portion of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Also at issue is an order for the operators of the Dakota Access Pipeline to shut down operations pending completing of the environmental study.

The plaintiffs in the case are the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe. The defendants are the Army Corps and Dakota Access.

The hearing lasted a little over 2 hours.

Thumbnail photo of Oceti Sakowin encampment in North Dakota by Joe Brusky