Vandalism reported along Dakota Access Pipeline

March 21 (UPI) -- The Dakota Access Pipeline developer has reported incidents of vandalism "that pose threats to life, physical safety and the environment."

Energy Transfer Partners said in court documents Monday that there have been "coordinated physical attacks" along the 1,172-mile pipeline. The document did not specify where or when the attacks have occurred. The construction status report was "filed under seal."

"These coordinated attacks will not stop line-fill operations," Dakota Access attorneys wrote in its report. "With that in mind, the company now believes that oil may flow sometime this week."

Dakota Access, a subsidiary of Energy Transfer Partners, previously said oil could start flowing in the pipeline under Lake Oahe between Monday and Wednesday. The company won't release its next status update until next Monday.

In Iowa, the Mahaska County Sheriff's Department confirmed damage to a safety check valve along the Dakota Access pipeline that was reported on March 13. The sheriff said someone probably used a blow torch to damage the safety valve in the area, which is 60 miles east of Des Moines. The sheriff said patrols were increased.

On March 7, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled against the Cheyenne River Sioux and Standing Rock Sioux tribes' request for an injunction on religious grounds. The two tribes also have said the pipeline is a threat to their water.

On Saturday, a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected their request for an injunction, saying they failed to satisfy the "stringent requirement."