Utah has joined a multi state lawsuit in the battle to block the Biden Administration’s plan to suspend oil and gas leases on federal lands in Utah and beyond. According to Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, the lawsuit says Biden Executive Order 14008 is in violation of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA). “The Biden administration’s unlawful moratorium on federal land leasing threatens Utah’s oil and gas industry,” states Attorney General Reyes. “Not only does the industry add billions of dollars to Utah’s economy each year, it also supports over 32,000 jobs in Utah. Revenue from oil and gas leases and royalties help fund schools and local governments, as well as health, safety, and environmental projects across the State. Without any explanation, President Biden’s order stops lease sales in violation of federal law.” The state of Louisiana is leading the lawsuit that many states are now adding their support and resources to. According to the announcement from Attorney General Reyes, the Biden Ban purports to protect the environment, but instead it constitutes what is likely the single-largest divestment of revenue for environmental protection projects in American history. In addition to Utah, the following states joined in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia.
