On August 16, 2021, federal defendants filed a notice of their appeal of a Louisiana federal district court’s decision granting plaintiff states’ motion for a preliminary injunction barring the Biden administration from implementing a pause on new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters. A week earlier, the plaintiff states filed a motion for order to show cause and to compel compliance with the preliminary injunction, arguing that the defendants violated the court’s order by refusing to hold new onshore lease sales and move forward with offshore lease sales. The defendants opposed this motion, contending that they had been working over the last 10 weeks to prepare to hold onshore and offshore leases, and that they were “on track” to publicly announce onshore and offshore leasing activity by August 31. In a <a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-files-court-brief-outlining-next-steps-leasing-program">press release</a> on August 24, the Interior Department announced steps to comply with the district court’s injunction and also said it would undertake “a programmatic analysis to address what changes in the Department’s programs may be necessary to meet the President’s targets of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” On August 31, BOEM issued a <a href="https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/oil-gas-energy/GOM-LS-257.pdf">record of decision</a> for Lease Sale 257. Also on August 31, BLM <a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/oil-and-gas/leasing">sought</a> public input on parcels proposed for potential oil and gas leasing.

Lawsuit challenging pause on new oil and gas leasing on public lands and in offshore waters.

Louisiana v. Biden

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Federal Government Proceeded with Offshore and Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing but Appealed Louisiana Federal Court Injunction

Filed

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