Judge: Trump administration violated law with oil, gas projects that ignored climate impacts; blocks drilling on 300,000 acres
By Juliet Eilperin and Juliet Eilperin Reporter covering domestic policy and national affairs Email Bio Follow Brady Dennis Brady Dennis Reporter focusing on environmental policy and public health issues Email Bio Follow March 20 at 10:03 AM A federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the Interior Department violated federal law by failing to take into account the climate impact of its oil and gas leasing in the West.
The decision by U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Rudolph Contreras marks the first time the Trump administration has been held to account for the climate impact of its energy-dominance agenda, and it could have sweeping implications for the president’s plan to boost fossil fuel production across the country.
The initial ruling in the case brought by two advocacy groups, WildEarth Guardians and Physicians for Social Responsibility, has implications for oil and gas drilling on federal land throughout the West. In the decision, Contreras faulted the agency’s environmental assessments as inadequate because it did not detail how individual drilling projects contributed to the nation’s overall carbon output.
“Given the national, cumulative nature of climate change, considering each individual drilling project in a vacuum deprives the agency and the public of the context necessary to evaluate oil and gas drilling on federal land before irretrievably committing to that drilling,” he wrote. While the Interior Department began to take into account the climate impacts of federal oil, gas and coal leasing toward the end of President Barack Obama’s second term, Trump administration officials jettisoned those plans right after President Trump took office. Trump and several of his top deputies have dismissed recent federal findings that the United States and other countries must curb their carbon output in the next decade or face potentially disastrous consequences from climate change.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump seemingly threatens 'SNL' with federal investigation over critical sketchPresident Donald Trump slammed 'Saturday Night Live' for its repeated jokes about his presidency, even questioning whether a federal investigation should be launched.
Read more »
Trump to nominate Stephen M. Dickson to head the Federal Aviation AdministrationThe former Delta Air Lines executive would take the reins of the agency at a time when its times to industry are being questioned.
Read more »
New lawsuit alleges Donald Trump misused Trump Foundation funds for presidential campaignNew York Attorney General Letitia James filed the 37-page lawsuit, which seeks $2.8 million in restitution. The suit also requests an order banning Trump, as well as Donald Trump, Jr. Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump, from operating any charities in New York for 10 years.
Read more »
New filing alleges Donald Trump misused Trump Foundation funds for presidential campaignNew York Attorney General Letitia James filed the 37-page lawsuit, which seeks $2.8 million in restitution. The suit also requests an order banning Trump, as well as Donald Trump, Jr. Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump, from operating any charities in New York for 10 years.
Read more »
Something is terribly wrong with TrumpMichael D'Antonio writes that following a weekend of unhinged Twitter ranting -- without any serious attention devoted to the victims of the New Zealand terror attack -- it is clear that Donald Trump is not fit to serve in the Oval Office.
Read more »
Donald Trump and 'the Trump of the Tropics,' Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, to meet at White HousePresident Donald Trump and 'the Trump of the Tropics,' Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, will meet face to face at the White House on Tuesday.
Read more »
Trump eyes right-wing US-Brazilian alliance in meet with BolsonaroPresident Donald Trump was hosting Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the so-called Trump of the Tropics, on Tuesday to launch what officials tout as a new alliance between their right-wing governments. 'This is a potentially historic opportunity to redirect relations between our two countries
Read more »
Donald Trump and 'the Trump of the Tropics,' Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, meet at White HousePresident Donald Trump and 'the Trump of the Tropics,' Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, will meet face to face at the White House on Tuesday.
Read more »