Enzi, Barrasso statements on federal judge halting new oil and gas drilling in Wyoming

Washington, D.C. – On March 19, a district court judge in Washington, D.C. blocked new oil and gas drilling across nearly 500 square miles in Wyoming. U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., released the following statements:

“This short-sighted decision by a judge in Washington, D.C. will not only damage Wyoming’s workforce and economy, it also sets a dangerous precedent for the future,” Enzi said. “Leasing public lands is vital for our continued efforts to keep energy prices low and create energy independence for the nation. Instead of trying to manipulate our judicial system to stop energy development, we should be focused on innovative technological solutions to help ensure our energy development is affordable, reliable and cleaner.”

“This bad decision will hurt workers in Wyoming, reduce revenue for the state and slow America’s energy production,” said Barrasso. “Wyoming is a leader of protecting our environment and responsibly developing our natural resources.”