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Natural gas

Circuit Court Upholds Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division has announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has published an opinion upholding the Department of the Interior's 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. This decision comes after a coalition of environmental groups challenged the program, arguing that it failed to account for the effects of offshore oil and gas development on vulnerable communities and did not adequately assess the potential for conflicts between oil and gas drilling and other uses of the sea and seabed. The court rejected these challenges, holding that Interior's rationale for the program was adequately supported by data and analysis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Department of the Interior's 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which sets the number and location of offshore oil and gas lease sales for the ensuing 5-year period.
  • The program was challenged by a coalition of environmental groups, who argued that it failed to account for the effects of offshore oil and gas development on vulnerable communities and did not adequately assess the potential for conflicts between oil and gas drilling and other uses of the sea and seabed.
  • The court rejected these challenges, holding that Interior's rationale for the program was adequately supported by data and analysis and that it reasonably deferred consideration of specific potential conflicts to later stages in the offshore leasing process.
  • The decision was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).
  • The program plays a key part in the development of the nation's abundant energy resources in the service of economic and national security.
  • The court's opinion was published on [August 29, 2025].
  • President Donald J. Trump signed the Unleashing American Energy executive order, which sets a policy to encourage exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, including on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Statistics:

  • The program sets the number and location of offshore oil and gas lease sales for the ensuing 5-year period (2024-2029).
  • The 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program was signed by President Donald J. Trump in one of his first actions after taking office.
  • The program aims to develop the nation's abundant energy resources in the service of economic and national security.
  • A coalition of environmental groups challenged the program, arguing that it failed to account for the effects of offshore oil and gas development on vulnerable communities.
  • The court rejected these challenges, holding that Interior's rationale for the program was adequately supported by data and analysis.

Sources:

  • U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division (August 29, 2025): "Circuit Court Upholds Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program"
  • Original text available at: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/circuit-court-upholds-outer-continental-shelf-oil-and-gas-leasing-program

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