Wyoming has launched a lawsuit to fight a federal ban on new oil and gas leases on federal land.
According to a release from Governor Mark Gordon’s office, the lawsuit says Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland’s “implementation of the leasing moratorium contained in Executive Order 14008 is invalid under federal law.”
“Following a careful review of not only the President’s Executive Order, but its practical effect, it is necessary for Wyoming to protect its citizens and challenge the Secretary’s action,” Governor Gordon said in the release. “Not only is this federal action overreaching, it was implemented without public input as required under federal law.”
The suit also claims the ban will not help the Biden administration meet its climate change goals, according to the release, and claims the ban will cost Wyoming jobs and millions of dollars in revenue.
Earlier this month Wyoming joined a 21-state lawsuit against the Biden administration for blocking the Keystone XL Pipeline project.
A study often cited for evidence against the Biden administration’s actions to reduce reliance on fossil fuel was produced with funding from the oil and gas industry group Western Energy Alliance, according to records.
While the Biden administration has paused new leases on public lands, companies continue to drill using existing leases, and hold on to hundreds of leases issued before the ban.
The full Wyoming lawsuit can be read here.
