A federal judge has ruled a lawsuit seeking more analysis of the effect of oil and gas activities on endangered species in the Gulf of Mexico is moot after the “God Squad” handed down an exemption from federal protections in the region earlier this year.
In a decision issued from the bench Wednesday, Judge Deborah Boardman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland dismissed a challenge to NOAA Fisheries’ 2025 biological opinion. Environmental groups claimed the analysis was arbitrary and capricious and repeated errors of an earlier biological opinion.
Boardman, a Biden appointee, has yet to issue an order publicly explaining her rationale for the decision.
“We’re of course disappointed in that result but are continuing to fight the Exemption in our other litigation in the DC district court,” said Steven Mashuda, an Earthjustice attorney representing the environmental groups, in an email.
