United States v. California

The federal district court for the Eastern District of California denied the United States’ motion for a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of a California law (SB 1137) that prohibits the drilling of new oil and gas wells and the redrilling/deepening of existing wells within 3,200 feet of “sensitive receptors.” The court found that the U.S. did not demonstrate that it was likely to establish that SB 1137 is preempted because it conflicts with the Mineral Leasing Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act. The court also found that the U.S. did not show that risk of irreparable injury was likely or that the requested injunction would prevent such an injury. The court cited the U.S.’s “substantial delay” in filing the lawsuit and the “speculative” nature of the impact the U.S. claimed SB 1137 would have on oil and gas leasing on federal lands.