Keystone XL Pipeline Foes File 2 New Lawsuits in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline in Nebraska have filed two new lawsuits over the proposed route, after the state’s Supreme Court recently tossed a previous legal challenge.

Landowners in Holt and York counties filed lawsuits Friday against pipeline developer TransCanada to stop the Canadian company from using eminent domain power to gain access to their land.

Their attorney, Dave Domina, says the lawsuits closely resemble the claim the court dismissed. But he says this time all of the landowners have legal standing to bring the case.

That’s important, because three judges last time said the landowners lacked standing. Four of the court’s seven judges declared the law unconstitutional, but five were required.

The lawsuits seek to overturn a law that allowed former Gov. Dave Heineman to approve the route.