WESTERN WATERSHEDS PROJECT, et al., vs. DAVID BERNHARDT, Secretary of the Interior, et al., and STATE OF WYOMING, et al.,
A federal judge in Iowa has ordered that existing federal oil and gas leases in Wyoming and Montana be paused after determining that the Bureau of Land Management: “(1) failed to consider the reasonable alternative of deferring priority sage-grouse habitat; (2) failed to take a hard look at the direct and indirect impacts to greater sage-grouse; and (3) failed to take a hard look at the cumulative impacts on greater sage-grouse.” The court ruled that BLM must address these deficiencies in order to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act, holding further that “BLM may not authorize new drilling/surface disturbing activities on the leased parcels” until the court’s concerns are sufficiently addressed.
[To accompany Federal Case Law Update "Federal Judge Pauses Federal Oil and Gas Projects in Sage Grouse Litigation" from Brooks Animal Law Digest Issue No. 90.]