Company suspending efforts to acquire Nebraska land for Keystone Pipeline amid legal challenge

A Canadian oil pipeline company is temporarily suspending efforts to seize Nebraska for the Keystone Pipeline XL amid a legal challenge.

A Holt County District judge issued a temporary injunction Thursday, keeping TransCanada from invoking eminent domain along the proposed Keystone Pipeline route in northern Nebraska.

TransCanada agreed to the order, hoping to get an accelerated trial schedule.

Landowners have sued over the project.

TransCanada filed legal papers in nine Nebraska counties three weeks ago to invoke eminent domain for the land that's needed to construct, operate and maintain the pipeline. The Keystone Pipeline would carry an estimated 800,000 barrels of crude oil a day to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines headed for Gulf Coast refineries.