WASHINGTON, Sept 1, 2021 (BSS/AFP) - US President Joe Biden's
administration on Tuesday announced plans to open more than 80 million acres
in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas exploration after a court ruled against
the administration's pause in leasing.

   The decision represents a significant step back for the White House's
ambitious climate agenda and was quickly challenged by a coalition of
environmental groups.

   The Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expects a
final notice of sale in September, "with a lease sale to follow in the fall
of this year," the agency said in a statement.

   In January, Biden announced a moratorium on new drilling from federal land
pending a review, as the Democrat sought to place the climate crisis at the
heart of his presidency.

   But in June, a Louisiana judge appointed by former president Donald Trump
stepped in to rule that the administration required approval from Congress
for its pause.

   According to a Record of Decision posted online, the government projects
up to 1.1 billion barrels of oil and 4.4 trillion cubic feet of gas from the
auction.

   It noted a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
"detailing observations of a rapidly changing climate in every region
globally," but said it did not present sufficient cause to change the
environmental impact statement for the drilling at this time.

   Environmental groups led by the Earthjustice advocacy group sued the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland after
the notice.

   "In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, it is clear that we need to be doing
everything we can to transition away from fossil fuels to reduce the impacts
of climate change such as stronger, more frequent hurricanes," said Healthy
Gulf's executive director Cynthia Sarthou.

   "This lease sale is deeply disappointing. The Biden administration has
folded to the oil industry based on its campaign of disinformation and
political pressure, ignoring the worsening climate emergency we face," added
Brettny Hardy, Earthjustice attorney.