Federal Judge Throws Out Obama Oil and Gas Drilling Rules

A federal judge overturned Obama administration rules that intended to slow down expedited environmental review of oil and gas drilling on federal lands. The Western Energy Alliance, a petroleum industry group, had sued the federal government, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled in favor of the alliance, reinstating expedited oil and gas drilling under provisions called 'categorical exclusions' on federal lands.