ELR Citation: 50 ELR 20049
No(s). 4:19-cv-00013-DN-PK (D. Utah Mar 2, 2020) (Nuffer, J.)

A district court dismissed a lawsuit concerning BLM's March and December 2018 oil and gas lease sales in southeastern Utah. Environmental groups argued the sales were arbitrary and capricious because BLM failed to conduct proper environmental and historical analyses and failed to provide appropriate opportunity for notice and comment. DOI moved to dismiss, arguing the groups' claims were moot because BLM suspended the leases to perform additional environmental analysis and plans to issue new final leasing decisions. The court agreed, finding that no substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality existed. The groups then argued their claims could still proceed because of the voluntary cessation exception, but the court found the exception did not apply because the violations the groups alleged could not reasonably be expected to start up again. It therefore dismissed the suit.