US Court Rejects Challenge to Trump’s Offshore Drilling Expansion

An Alaska federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit by environmental groups challenging President Donald Trump’s move to allow offshore drilling along broad swaths of previously protected coastline.

U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason found the lawsuit by groups, including the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, was premature because drilling was not imminent in federal waters that were placed off-limits by Trump’s predecessors.

Gleason did not rule on whether presidents have legal authority to undo their predecessors’ withdrawal of coastal areas from drilling and left the door open for the groups to refile their lawsuit.

Earthjustice, an advocacy group whose attorneys filed the lawsuit, said in a statement that the group still believes Trump's actions were unlawful and that it would refile its case should federal officials expand offshore drilling.

"We’re disappointed the court found that offshore drilling activities are not imminent," the group said in a statement. "This administration has been doing everything in its power to open our coasts to fossil fuel development. We continue to maintain that President Trump’s attempt to open withdrawn areas for oil leasing is unlawful, and we intend to pursue those claims if and when offshore activities are on the horizon."

The U.S.