"Federal judges today struck down a court order that had barred the Biden administration from pausing new oil and gas leasing on public lands and federal waters.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found this morning that the order requiring the Interior Department to resume lease sale offerings “lacked specificity.” But the appeals court did not decide on the substance of the Biden administration’s arguments that it had the authority to stop new sales.

“We cannot reach the merits of the Government’s challenge when we cannot ascertain from the record what conduct — an unwritten agency policy, a written policy outside of the Executive Order, or the Executive Order itself — is enjoined,” wrote Senior Judge Patrick Higginbotham in the 5th Circuit opinion."

Niina H. Farah reports for E&E News August 17, 2022. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Court Strikes Down Ruling That Blocked Biden’s Oil Drilling Pause" (Washington Post) [3]

"U.S. Court Vacates Decision To Block Federal Oil, Gas Leasing Pause" (Reuters) [4]