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14 States are suing Biden Administration Over Leasing Pause for Public Lands Drilling
Fourteen states led by Republican attorneys general sued the Biden administration over its decision to pause the issuance of new leasing on public lands and waters for oil and gas drilling.
Republican attorneys lead Fourteen US states in suing the Biden administration because of its decision to pause issuing new leases connected to oil and gas drilling on public lands and waters.
Lawsuits Over Pause in New Leasing
On Wednesday, 13 states led by Louisiana collectively filed one lawsuit. Meanwhile, the state of Wyoming filed its own suit separately. The lawsuits all ask the courts to discard the pause creating new leasing that came with one of President Biden’s executive orders.
The pause that came in as a result of the order is temporary, but no end date was indicated. It was issued pending the completion of a review on Federal oil and gas permissions and leasing practices.
In the complaints, the states claim that this has caused many unreasonable delays. It has also allegedly failed to comply with the requirements for notice and comment. The suit also described it as capricious.
Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry released a statement regarding the orders. He says it abandons jobs for the middle class at a time when American citizens need them the most. Landry also says the orders put the country’s energy security in the hands of other countries.
Apart from the 14 states, many Republican coalitions have also filed lawsuits against the president over his environmental orders.
When Biden announced the pause on new leasing, he said the administration will review the program and reset it. The president added that he wants to start properly managing Federal lands and waterways.
The Energy Information Administration claims that the pause will not have any effect until 2022. It predicted, however, that after that year, there will be a decrease in crude oil production by about 100,000 out of 11 million.
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