National Environmental Policy Act: OCS Leasing; Endangered Species Act Public Lands: Outer Continental Shelf; Federal Oil and Gas Leases Court Jurisidiction, Procedure and Review: Standing; Ripeness

摘要

Environmental groups challenge the Department of Interior's five-year leasing program (2007-2012) for the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Alaska, as an expansion of prior lease offerings in the Beaufort, Bering, and Chukchi Seas. The challenges focus on alleged violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The groups argue that the Department failed to take into consideration both the effects of climate change on OCS areas and the leasing program's effects on climate change.