Federal judge blocks Bidens pause on new oil, gas leases

The Biden administrations suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land and water was blocked Tuesday by a federal judge in Louisiana. US District Judge Terry Doughtys ruling came in a lawsuit filed in March by Louisianas Republican attorney general, Jeff Landry and officials in 12 other states. Doughtys ruling granting a preliminary injunction to those states said his order applies nationwide.

The 13 states said the administration bypassed comment periods and other bureaucratic steps required before such delays can be undertaken. Doughty heard arguments in the case last week in Lafayette.

The moratorium was imposed after Democratic President Joe Biden on January 27 signed executive orders to fight climate change. The suit was filed in March. The states opposing the suspension said it was undertaken without the required comment periods and other bureaucratic steps. Federal lawyers also argued that the public notice and comment period doesnt apply to the suspension, that the lease sales arent required by law and that the Secretary of the Interior has broad discretion in leasing decisions. Although Landry and the lawsuits supporters said the moratorium has already driven up prices and endangered energy jobs, Bidens suspension didnt stop companies from drilling on existing leases. No existing lease has been cancelled as a result of any of the actions challenged here, and development activity from exploration through drilling and production has continued at similar levels as the preceding four years, lawyers for the administration argued in briefs.

A long-term halt to oil and gas sales would curb future production and could hurt states like Louisiana that are heavily dependent on the industry that has contributed to global warming. The lawsuit notes that coastal states receive significant revenue from onshore and offshore oil and gas activity. Stopping leases, the lawsuit argues, would diminish revenue that pays for Louisiana efforts to restore coastal wetlands, raise energy costs and lead to major job losses in oil-producing states.

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