Lawsuit Could Halt Oil and Gas Lease Sales in Gulf

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Environmental groups are suing over a planned offshore drilling lease in the Gulf. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit challenging a lease sale scheduled for December 10th for 80 million acres. The groups say the government didn't follow environmental laws. They're worried about endangered whales and pollution impacts on coastal communities. The Trump Administration's Department of Interior says it is following the law. It says an environmental study completed in August addressed these concerns and found them negligible. The department says new oil and gas development will support the economy for decades. The lawsuit wants the sale stopped until the government complies with environmental protection laws.