One sentence summary – The Biden administration and environmental groups are planning to challenge a Louisiana federal judge’s ruling that ordered the expansion of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico, with the U.S. Interior Department and organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity filing a notice of appeal; the ruling to add 6 million acres back into the auction has been welcomed by the oil and gas industry, while environmental groups have expressed concerns for the endangered Rice’s whale.
At a glance
- The Biden administration and environmental groups are challenging a ruling by a Louisiana federal judge on oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The U.S. Interior Department and organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity have filed an appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Judge Cain’s ruling ordered the Interior Department to include additional acreage in the lease sale by September 30.
- The oil and gas industry supports the decision to add 6 million acres back into the auction, as it lifts restrictions on vessel traffic.
- Environmental groups oppose the inclusion of the additional acres due to concerns for the endangered Rice’s whale.
The details
The Biden administration and various environmental groups are preparing to challenge a recent ruling by a Louisiana federal judge regarding the expansion of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. Interior Department, along with organizations such as the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed a notice of appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
This action is in response to a ruling by U.S. District Judge James Cain.
Judge Cain’s ruling ordered the Interior Department to include additional acreage in the lease sale by September 30.
The decision to add 6 million acres back into the auction has been met with approval from the oil and gas industry.
Industry representatives argue that this move lifts restrictions on vessel traffic that were previously imposed by the Interior Department.
They believe that the removal of these restrictions will be beneficial to their operations.
On the other hand, environmental groups have expressed opposition to the inclusion of the additional acres.
Their opposition is rooted in concerns for the endangered Rice’s whale.
The government has identified several key threats to the Rice’s whale.
These threats include energy exploration, oil spills, spill response, and vessel strikes.
Earthjustice attorney Steve Mashuda has been vocal in his defense of efforts to save the Rice’s whale from extinction.
Mashuda has criticized the government for continuing to allow the oil industry to bid on 67 million acres of the Gulf.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has not issued a comment on the ruling.
Prior to the ruling, the administration’s stipulations had removed over 6 million acres from the auction.
These stipulations also required vessel operators to be vigilant for whales and adhere to speed restrictions in their habitat.
These restrictions were put in place after environmental groups filed a separate lawsuit.
It should be noted that the information provided in this article is compiled from multiple different news articles on the subject.
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A group of people holding protest signs and standing in front of an oil rig in a coastal area.
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| reuters.com |
|---|
| – The Biden administration and environmental groups plan to appeal a Louisiana federal judge’s ruling on the expansion of oil leases in the Gulf of Mexico. – |
| The U.S. Interior Department and groups like the Center for Biological Diversity have filed a notice of appeal with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. – U.S. District Judge James Cain ordered the Interior Department to include additional acreage in the lease sale by September 30. – The oil and gas industry supports the judge’s decision to restore 6 million acres to the auction, as it removes restrictions on vessel traffic imposed by the Interior Department. – Environmental groups opposed including the additional acres, citing the need to protect the endangered Rice’s whale. – |
| The government identifies energy exploration, oil spills, spill response, and vessel strikes as the top threats to the Rice’s whale. – Earthjustice attorney Steve Mashuda defended efforts to save the whale from extinction and criticized the government for still allowing the oil industry to bid on 67 million acres of the Gulf. – |
| The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) had no comment on the ruling. |
| – |
| The administration’s stipulations had initially removed over 6 million acres from the auction and required vessel operators to watch for whales and follow speed restrictions in their habitat. |
| – These restrictions were implemented after environmental groups filed a separate lawsuit. |
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