Judge blocks government plan to scale back Gulf oil lease sale to protect whale species

A federal judge has ordered the Interior Department to expand next week's scheduled sale of of Gulf of Mexico oil and gas leases by millions of acres, rejecting a scaled-back plan announced last month by the Biden administration as part of an effort to protect an endangered whale species. As originally proposed in March, the Sept. 27 sale was would have made 73 acres (30 hectares) of offshore tracts available for drilling leases. BOEM's revision also included new speed limits and requirements for personnel on industry vessels in some of the areas to be leased — also blocked by Cain's order.