ELR Citation: 50 ELR 20184
No(s). C 17-5948 SBA (N.D. Cal. Jul 30, 2020) (Armstrong, J.)

A district court denied a motion to enforce its previous order vacating DOI's repeal of the Valuation Rule and reinstating prior regulations governing payment of royalties on oil, gas, and coal extracted pursuant to leases on federal and Indian lands. Conservation groups argued that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue's issuance of "Dear Reporter" letters, which extended the deadline for lessees to comply with the reinstated regulations, were inconsistent with the court's order because it thwarted the order's effect. The court, following a recommendation from its magistrate judge, found that although the letters had the effect of delaying payment of the royalties, they did not eliminate or excuse lessees' obligation to calculate and pay royalties in accordance with the Valuation Rule, and thus did not violate the order. It therefore denied the groups' motion to enforce judgment and accepted the magistrate judge's recommendation.