Judge Terry Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the western district of Louisiana this week blocked the Biden administration’s pause on oil and gas leasing on public lands and waters. Tuesday’s order granted a preliminary injunction to Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and 10 other states – all with Republican attorneys general – that sued President Biden and the U.S. Department of Interior March 24 over the pause on new drilling auctions.
The injunction requires Interior to resume leasing of federal onshore and offshore properties for oil and gas exploration. Interior said it would comply. After taking office in January, the Democratic president had paused the government’s leasing auctions pending a review that is expected to be completed within weeks.
Oil & Gas Journal said the injunction does not determine the outcome of the case. Doughty said Interior appears to have violated three laws – Administrative Procedure Act, Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and Mineral Leasing Act.