The Interior Department said on 18 March that it can move forward with planning for oil and gas leasing on federal lands after previous delays stemming from a court move blocking a climate accounting tool.
Previously, the department had said there would be delays in “permitting and leasing for the oil and gas programs” after a lower court barred the Biden administration from using a tool allowing it to calculate the climate costs of such actions.
But an appeals court halted that decision.
Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz said in an emailed statement that the department now “continues its planning for responsible oil and gas development on America’s public lands and waters,” in light of the new ruling.
Schwartz declined further comment on leasing, but she clarified that permitting had never been halted, saying the court ruling has affected fewer than 20 permits.
The American Petroleum Institute, an oil and gas lobbying group, cheered the announcement, but also called for additional action in a statement.
“At a time when the administration and allies around the world are calling for more American energy, we welcome the Department of the Interior’s announcement today and urge the administration to hold onshore lease sales under the Mineral Leasing Act with sufficient acreage and fair terms,” said American Petroleum Institute senior vice president of policy, economics and regulatory affairs Frank Macchiarola.