Becerra
Becerra v. United States Department of the Interior
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Laporte, J.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Re: Dkt. No.
In this case, Plaintiffs People of the State of California, ex rel. Xavier Becerra, Attorney General, and People of the State of New Mexico, ex rel. Hector Balderas, Attorney General, seek a declaration that that the action of Defendants United States Department of the Interior (“DOI”), Office of Natural Resources Revenue (“ONRR”), Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and Director of the ONRR Gregory Gould violated the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and an injunction requiring Defendants to vacate- the postponement of and reinstate the Consolidated Federal Oil & Gas and Federal & Indian Coal Valuation rule at 81 Fed. Reg. 43,338 (July 1,- 2016) (the “Rule”). On June 2, 2017, Plaintiffs moved for summary judgment. Dkt. No. 13. Defendants opposed on July 20, :2017, and Plaintiffs replied on August 4, 2017. Dkt. Nos. 26 & 27. On August 22, 2017, the Gourt heard argument on Plaintiffs’ motion. For the reasons stated below, the Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In 2007, ONRR’s Subcommittee on Royalty Management issued a report with several recommendations…