by Thomas Catenacci
UPDATE: This article has been updated to include comment from Interior Department spokesperson Melissa Schwartz saying that the department would be “reviewing” the appeals court decision.
The Biden administration signaled Friday that it would resume the federal oil and gas leasing program that was delayed following a lower court ruling in February, Reuters reported.
“With this ruling, the department continues its planning for responsible oil and gas development on America’s public lands and waters,” Department of the Interior (DOI) spokesperson Melissa Schwartz told Reuters.
On Thursday, Schwartz said the administration was “reviewing” an appeals court decision that could lead to a policy shift, in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“Social Cost” Policy
On Feb. 11, a district court judge issued a ruling, halting a policy President Joe Biden implemented immediately after taking office. The so-called “social cost” policy would require agencies to evaluate the approximate dollar value from every additional metric ton of carbon emissions before approving certain projects including oil and gas leases.
The administration then said the ruling would force them to delay or cancel leases since the program had already factored in social costs.
“Work surrounding public-facing rules, grants, leases, permits, and other projects has been delayed or stopped altogether so that agencies can assess whether and how they can proceed,” the Department of Justice wrote in the filing.
“The preliminary injunction irreparably harms the federal government—and therefore the public interest—by chilling the free exchange of ideas in internal government deliberations regarding the social cost of greenhouse gas emissions,” the filing said.
However, a federal appeals court reversed the lower court decision in a ruling Wednesday. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Biden’s social cost policy could be reinstated, opening the door for the administration to continue programs delayed by the lower court decision.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry vowed to fight the court’s decision Thursday.
Under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, the Interior secretary is required to hold lease sales “at least quarterly.”
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