U.S. Bureau of Land Management Proposes Rule Promoting Conservation on Federal Land
On April 3, 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would put conservation of U.S. managed lands on an equal footing with oil and gas development and other economic activities (the Proposed Rule). Stakeholders interested in development on federal lands should consider carefully the implications of BLM’s proposal.
U.S. District Court Enjoins Biden Administration’s Nationwide Oil and Gas Leasing “Pause” Following Fifth Circuit’s Remand
On August 18, 2022, the federal district court for the Western District of Louisiana (the District Court) enjoined the nationwide pause of oil and gas leasing by the Biden administration (the Government). The District Court issued a permanent injunction just one day after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Fifth Circuit) vacated and remanded the District Court’s order by which the District Court had previously issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the pause.
Fifth Circuit Vacates and Remands Injunction on Nationwide Oil and Gas Lease Pause
On August 17, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (the Court) vacated and remanded an order by the federal district court for the Western District of Louisiana (the District Court) of a nationwide preliminary injunction enjoining the Biden administration (the Government) from pausing oil and gas lease sales. The Court found that the District Court’s decision lacked specificity.
