ELR Citation: 50 ELR 20146
No(s). 18-5343 (D.C. Cir. Jun 16, 2020)

The D.C. Circuit vacated a district court ruling concerning DOI's cancellation of an oil and gas lease in Montana. The leaseholder challenged the Department's cancellation, and the district court ruled in its favor, holding that the amount of time that had elapsed between the issuance of the lease and its cancellation violated the APA and that DOI failed to consider identified reliance interests before canceling the lease. The appellate court found that delay by itself was not enough to render the lease cancellation arbitrary or capricious, and that DOI did consider, and compensated, previous leaseholders' identified reliance interests. It therefore vacated the district court's judgment and remanded for further proceedings.