PAW Victory: D.C. Court of Appeals Rules Anti-Oil and Gas Groups Must Show Actual Harm

Court tells litigious organizations they cannot claim harm without specifics

July 15, 2025

Casper, Wyo. – The Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW), representing the state’s leading economic driver, applauds a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejecting attempts by anti-oil and natural gas organizations to block more than 4,000 individual permits for wells on federal lands in Wyoming and New Mexico.

In Center for Biological Diversity v. Department of Interior, the Court dismissed the case for lack of standing, stating the plaintiffs “failed to demonstrate that any individual member would plausibly have standing to challenge any or all of the permits.” It further noted that “Plaintiffs’ supporting materials are silent on the critical question of which APDs are alleged to cause which harms in which locations Plaintiffs frequent, leaving us unable meaningfully to review their claims.”

“This is a major victory for Wyoming’s oil and natural gas industry—not only in securing the 1,000 permits affected in Wyoming but also in setting an important precedent,” said PAW President Pete Obermueller. “Future challenges to development must demonstrate actual harm tied to specific projects, not rely on vague or generalized claims—as it should be.”

The Bureau of Land Management oversees 67% of Wyoming’s total mineral estate, meaning challenges like this have an outsized impact on the state. PAW intervened in the case to defend its members’ interests and the critical contributions the industry makes to Wyoming’s economy. We thank the Wyoming-based team at Brownstein law office for their exceptional work on this case.

About PAW: Representing Wyoming’s primary economic engine, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, is the voice of the oil and gas industry. Our members produce 90% of Wyoming’s oil and gas, generating over $8 billion in economic activity and employing more than 19,000 of Wyoming’s hard-working men and women. PAW strives to foster mutually beneficial relationships with Wyoming’s landowners, businesses, and communities while promoting the sustainable production of Wyoming’s abundant resources.

The Petroleum Association of Wyoming provides a forum for education, interaction, and unified action for members, policymakers, and the public.