The Biden administration issued environmental assessment and sale notices for oil and gas leases on federal land in seven different states on April 18—a step taken reluctantly to come into compliance with a court order.
The move comes days after the Department of Interior announced it would resume oil and gas lease sales on public lands to comply with a June ruling by a federal judge from the Western District of Louisiana.
This clashes with the Biden administration’s effort to bring an end to new leases on federal land, as well as its broader goals of reducing carbon emissions.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday the administration will continue to fight the legal action.
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