On May 10, 2021, the federal district court for the Western District of Louisiana denied conservations groups’ motion to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the Biden administration’s suspension of oil and gas lease sales on public lands and offshore. With respect to intervention as of right, the court found that the conservation groups did not overcome the presumption that the government defendants’ representation of their interests would be adequate. The court said the government and the groups shared the “same ultimate objective,” which in this case was about the government’s “constitutional and statutory authority, not about climate policy.” In denying permissive intervention, the court again cited the government’s adequate representation of the groups and also said allowing the groups to intervene “could expand the case to issues not before this Court” that were not necessary to decide. The court invited the conservation groups to seek amicus curiae status.

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

Louisiana v. Biden

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Louisiana Federal Court Denied Conservation Groups’ Motion to Intervene in Challenge to Pause on Oil and Gas Leasing

Filed

United States of America

Louisiana

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Louisiana Federal Court Denied Conservation Groups’ Motion to Intervene in Challenge to Pause on Oil and Gas Leasing

Policy instrument

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Economic sector