Energy Groups Are Suing Biden Administration for Not Holding Oil and Gas Lease Sales

Vice President Kamala Harris (2-L) and special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry (L) watch as President Joe Biden signs several executive orders related to climate change, including one directing a pause on new oil and natural gas leases on public land, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2021. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

Two energy groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Interior (DOI) for its failure to hold natural gas and oil lease sales in the third quarter of this year.

The lawsuit was filed by the Western Energy Alliance (WEA) and the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) on Monday at the State of Wyoming and the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. The Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) of 1920 mandates that the DOI secretary must hold at least quarterly lease sales in every state where there is interest, Kathleen Sgamma, president of the WEA, stated in a Dec. 5 news release by PAW.