Federal Judge Blocks Wyoming Oil and Gas Project, Citing Environmental Violations
In a significant ruling on September 13th, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan partially blocked a massive oil and gas drilling project in Wyoming. The judge cited violations of environmental laws and ordered a reassessment of the project’s potential impacts on groundwater. The project, known as the Converse County Oil and Gas Project, was approved during the final days of the Trump presidency and was expected to create thousands of jobs and generate billions in federal revenue.
Environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the project, claiming that the approval process was rushed and incomplete. They argued that the drilling would harm bird habitat and that the project conflicted with efforts to combat the global climate crisis. The plaintiffs, represented by Advocates for the West, an environmental law organization, accused the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of failing to properly evaluate the environmental consequences of the project.
Judge Chutkan agreed with the plaintiffs, ruling that the BLM had violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to take a “hard look” at the environmental impacts of the project. NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare a thorough environmental impact statement for projects that may significantly affect the environment. Chutkan found that the BLM’s groundwater model report was flawed, particularly regarding groundwater depletion, which undermined the environmental review.
The plaintiffs argued that the BLM’s groundwater model report was full of errors and underestimated drawdowns. Hannah Goldblatt, a staff attorney at Advocates for the West, stated that the project would not only worsen the global climate crisis but also degrade air quality, deplete water supplies, and harm imperiled species like the greater sage-grouse.
The defendants, including the BLM, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the state of Wyoming, and several energy companies, defended the project and claimed that the BLM had used its discretion to estimate the specific storage value accurately. They argued that the chosen value fell within the range of previous studies and scientific literature. However, Judge Chutkan disagreed, pointing out that the values cited by the BLM were off by a factor of 10,000 from the one used in the groundwater model.
As a result of the court’s decision, further review of groundwater depletion concerns is required, and the issuance of new drilling permits for the project has been halted until additional environmental analysis is conducted. The ruling is a significant victory for the environmental groups that sued to block the project, who argued that it was part of an effort to fast-track fossil fuel production in Wyoming.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the BLM, Advocates for the West, and the Powder River Basin Resource Council for comments on the ruling. The decision not only highlights the importance of thorough environmental assessments but also emphasizes the need to prioritize the protection of natural resources and wildlife habitats.
