LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Three environmental groups have expanded a lawsuit that seeks to halt the development of a transnational oil pipeline through Nebraska.

The groups announced Tuesday that their lawsuit will challenge claims that a spill from the Keystone XL pipeline would not likely affect whooping cranes or other endangered species.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court of Omaha aims to stop early work to make way for the pipeline, such as mowing native prairie grasses. Pipeline operator TransCanada, which was not named in the lawsuit, has said it mowed the grass to protect an endangered beetle species. Company officials say they also received permission from the landowners.

The lawsuit names the U.S. State Department, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other federal agencies and officials as
defendants.