ESA Ruling May Jeopardize Gulf of Mexico Drilling Operations

Environmental attorneys Jim Noe, Alexandra Ward and Rafe Petersen co-authored a Law360 article discussing the potential impacts of a recent federal court ruling that invalidated key Endangered Species Act analyses for oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The article examines the court's decision in Sierra Club et al. v. National Marine Fisheries Service, which found that the National Marine Fisheries Service underestimated the risks to protected species in its 2020 biological opinion. The authors highlight the uncertainty this creates for offshore operations, including potential disruptions to permitting processes and increased liability risks for operators. They also explore how Gulf of Mexico oil production would be affected if a new biological opinion is not in place by the December 20 vacatur date.

Energy attorney Elizabeth Craddock also contributed to this article.

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