Update On Megaload Lawsuit

Imperial Oil has finalized its case to speed the approval process for its effort to move huge loads of equipment from Idaho through northwestern Montana to a project in Canada.

But District Judge Ray Dayton, who is hearing the case, said Wednesday he has not set a deadline for his decision and gave both sides 10 days after they receive the completed transcript of the testimony to submit findings and conclusions.

Missoula County and three conservation groups are seeking a preliminary injunction against a plan to move more than 200 loads of equipment through Montana. The defendants are the Montana Department of Transportation and Imperial Oil, the Canadian arm of oil giant ExxonMobil.

Last month, Dayton granted a temporary restraining order against the Kearl Module Transport Project until a hearing was held on the request for a preliminary injunction.

Story From The Associated Press