LINTON, N.D. (AP) — Supporters and opponents of a proposal to double the capacity of the Dakota Access oil pipeline packed a small-town auditorium Wednesday for a field hearing before state regulators considering the next phase of a project that sparked months of sometimes violent protests in 2016 and 2017.

Texas-based Energy Transfer wants to double the capacity of the line to as much as 1.1 million barrels daily to meet growing demand for oil shipments from North Dakota, and it’s seeking permission for pump stations to do it.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other opponents have long argued that a leak in the pipeline would threaten the tribe’s Missouri River water supply, and say that increasing pressure magnifies the risk. They’re asking the Public Service Commission to deny the expansion.

State troopers and sheriff’s deputies stood by as attendees cleared metal detectors and filled the auditorium to its capacity of 400 for the Public Service Commission meeting.

Steve Cortina of the Laborers’ International Union of North America was among trade workers in attendance, many of whom worked on the original $3.8 billion project.

“We supported it then and we want to be here to support the expansion now,” he said.

“I’m here because they want to double the risk of a spill,” said Joye Braun, a community organizer with Indigenous Environmental Network and one of the leaders of the Dakota Access pipeline protest.

Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said the state wants to develop North Dakota’s energy resources “in an orderly fashion with minimal impact.” She emphasized that that doesn’t mean “no impact.”

“We want to get all the information we can for a very thorough record so we can make the best decision possible,” she said.

The hearing was seen live on CSi Cable 4, on Wednesday.