The Biden administration’s pause in conducting oil and natural gas lease sales on federal land is drawing more legal challenges, as plaintiffs argue that the lack of third quarter auctions was illegal.

The Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) and the Western Energy Alliance (WEA) this week filed a lawsuit against the Department of Interior (DOI) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). A similar lawsuit was filed by Wyoming officials. The groups filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming (No. 1:22-cv-252).

“The Mineral Leasing Act is clear: the Interior Secretary must hold at least quarterly lease sales in every state where there is interest, as reflected by nominations,” WEA President Kathleen Sgamma said. “Oil and natural gas companies...