US District Court Judge Terry Doughty approved Attorney General Jeff Landry’s request to halt President Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and waters.
Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla celebrated the news.
“It’s a big win for the hard workers of the entire United States, but particularly Louisiana that is so dependent on the Gulf of Mexico,” said Moncla.
Landry released a statement saying “we appreciate that federal courts have recognized President Biden is completely outside his authority in his attempt to shut down oil and gas leases on federal lands.”
But Legal analyst Tim Meche cautioned that because the order does not question the President’s authority to issue moratoriums the industry celebration may not last long.
“A similar thing happened when President Obama issued a moratorium after the BP Oil Spill and all the President did was issue a new one,” said Meche. “This order, while it will stand, will probably not amount to much.”
Meche also said this back and forth involving new orders and preliminary injunctions could go on for quite some time until the issue is resolved by the Legislative Branch.
Moncla acknowledged that the industry’s reprieve might not last long, but said hopes this decision will force the President to rethink his oil and gas policy.
“I think since Biden made those decisions previously you’ve seen the struggles of the American public at the pump, so maybe he will ease up on that,” said Moncla.
The Biden Administration says the moratorium on new lease sales is part of the fight to reduce the country’s carbon production in an effort to limit the effects of climate change.
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