US postpones Gulf of Mexico oil drilling auction due to litigation

The Biden administration on Thursday postponed a Nov. 8 sale of offshore drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico pending the outcome of a lawsuit over oil and gas development and federal protection of an endangered species of whale.

The Biden administration on Thursday postponed a Nov. 8 sale of offshore drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico pending the outcome of a lawsuit over oil and gas development and federal protection of an endangered species of whale. The move comes after a U.S. appeals court on Oct. 26 temporarily paused a lower court order requiring the Interior Department to expand the auction, which was originally scheduled to be held in September.

The oil and gas industry and the state of Louisiana had sued Interior in August over its decision to scale back the auction to reduce conflicts with Rice's whale habitat. Oral arguments are scheduled for Nov. 13 in New Orleans.