Case: Healthy Gulf v. Burgum

1:26-cv-02150 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: June 17, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenges the March 2026 Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale that was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Five environmental organizations sued the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and Acting Director of BOEM Matthew Giacona on June 17, 2026. Plaintiffs filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the March 2026 Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale. The ch…

This case challenges the March 2026 Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale that was part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Five environmental organizations sued the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), and Acting Director of BOEM Matthew Giacona on June 17, 2026. Plaintiffs filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging the March 2026 Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale. The challenged sale was titled the Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas One Big Beautiful Bill Act Lease Sale 2 (BBG2). Plaintiffs included Healthy Gulf, Friends of the Earth, Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Sierra Club (collectively “Plaintiffs”).

Plaintiffs alleged violations of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Plaintiffs alleged these violations in four causes of action:

First, Plaintiffs alleged NEPA violations, specifically BOEM’s position that it was not required to comply with NEPA and its failure to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). In failing to prepare an EIS, Plaintiffs alleged that BOEM’s actions were arbitrary and capricious, violating the APA.
Second, Plaintiffs alleged OCSLA violations. Plaintiffs alleged that the Secretary and BOEM failed to properly consider environmental information before issuing the final notice of sale.
Third, Plaintiffs alleged ESA violations because BOEM failed to consult the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding the critically endangered Rice's whale.
Fourth, Plaintiffs alleged improper involvement of the Acting BOEM Director Matthew Giacona despite required recusal given his previous position as Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA). Plaintiffs alleged that Defendant Giacona’s involvement in the approval of BBG2 was arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with the law.

As relief, Plaintiffs requested declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorney’s fees. This case is still ongoing as of August 12, 2026.

Summary Authors

Sadie Henderson (8/12/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73497833/parties/healthy-gulf-v-burgum/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Mashuda, Stephen D. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Mashuda, Stephen D. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-02150	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief HEALTHY GULF et al. v. BURGUM et al.	June 17, 2026	June 17, 2026 Complaint

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73497833/healthy-gulf-v-burgum/

Last updated Sept. 7, 2026, 3:10 a.m.

Docket for: HEALTHY GULF v. BURGUM

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 17, 2026	COMPLAINT for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief against BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DOUG BURGUM, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MATTHEW GIACONA ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12494253) filed by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, SIERRA CLUB. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons to Doug Burgum, # 3 Summons to Matthew Giacona, # 4 Summons to U.S. Department of the Interior, # 5 Summons to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, # 6 Summons to Attorney General, # 7 Summons to U.S. Attorney)(Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons to Doug Burgum View on PACER 3 Summons to Matthew Giacona View on PACER 4 Summons to U.S. Department of the Interior View on PACER 5 Summons to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management View on PACER 6 Summons to Attorney General View on PACER 7 Summons to U.S. Attorney View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	June 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by HEALTHY GULF (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
3	June 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
4	June 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by FRIENDS OF THE EARTH (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
5	June 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
6	June 17, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by SIERRA CLUB (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
7	June 17, 2026	NOTICE OF RELATED CASE by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, SIERRA CLUB. Case related to Case No. 25-4016. (Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
8	June 17, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- George Torgun, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12494367. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of George Torgun, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
9	June 17, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Ava Ibanez Amador, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12494388. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Ava Ibanez Amador, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Mashuda, Stephen) (Entered: 06/17/2026)	RECAP
10	June 18, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Rachel Carlyn Mathews on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (Mathews, Rachel) (Entered: 06/18/2026)	RECAP
11	June 22, 2026	SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT, DOUG BURGUM, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, MATTHEW GIACONA, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zjm) (Entered: 06/22/2026) 1 Notice and Consent View on PACER	RECAP
12	June 22, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by George Torgun on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF (Torgun, George) (Entered: 06/22/2026)	RECAP
13	June 22, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Ava Ibanez Amador on behalf of CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, HEALTHY GULF (Ibanez Amador, Ava) (Entered: 06/22/2026)	RECAP
	June 22, 2026	Case Assigned to Judge Amit P. Mehta. (zjm)
	June 22, 2026	Case Assigned/Reassigned
	June 22, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	June 22, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 8 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney George Torgun is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/22/2026. (lcapm2)
	June 22, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 9 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney Ava Ibanez Amador is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 6/22/2026. (lcapm2)
14	July 7, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 6/29/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/28/2026. (Torgun, George) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
15	July 7, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/7/2026. (Torgun, George) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
16	July 7, 2026	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT served on 6/29/2026; DOUG BURGUM served on 6/29/2026; DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR served on 6/29/2026; MATTHEW GIACONA served on 6/29/2026 (Attachments: # 1 Proof of Service - Matthew Giacona, # 2 Proof of Service - Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, # 3 Proof of Service - U.S. Department of the Interior)(Torgun, George) (Entered: 07/07/2026)	RECAP
17	July 9, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Jared Solomon on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (Solomon, Jared) (Entered: 07/09/2026)	RECAP
18	July 20, 2026	MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Julia K. Forgie, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12556096. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Julia K. Forgie, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Solomon, Jared) (Entered: 07/20/2026)	RECAP
	July 20, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice
	July 20, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 18 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorney Julia K. Forgie is hereby admitted pro hac vice to appear in this matter. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 7/20/2026. (lcapm2)
19	July 24, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Julia Kathryn Forgie on behalf of NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL (Forgie, Julia) (Entered: 07/24/2026)	RECAP
20	Aug. 4, 2026	MOTION to Intervene as Defendant by CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Declaration of Trent D. Webre, # 3 Proposed Answer, # 4 Proposed Order)(Marotta, Sean) (Entered: 08/04/2026)	RECAP
21	Aug. 4, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Sean Marotta on behalf of CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. (Marotta, Sean) (Entered: 08/04/2026)	RECAP
22	Aug. 4, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. (Marotta, Sean) (Entered: 08/04/2026)	RECAP
23	Aug. 4, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Dana A. Raphael on behalf of CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. (Raphael, Dana) (Entered: 08/04/2026)	RECAP
24	Aug. 5, 2026	ORDER granting 20 Chevron U.S.A.'s Motion to Intervene. Chevron is hereby granted party status. The clerk of court shall docket Chevron's answer filed at ECF No. 20-3. Please see attached Order. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/05/2026. (lcapm2) (Entered: 08/05/2026)	RECAP
25	Aug. 5, 2026	ANSWER to Complaint by CHEVRON U.S.A. INC..(mg) (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
26	Aug. 6, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Davis Aaron Backer on behalf of All Defendants (Backer, Davis) (Entered: 08/06/2026)	RECAP
27	Aug. 7, 2026	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE (Beaudreau, Tommy) (Entered: 08/07/2026)	RECAP
28	Aug. 7, 2026	MOTION to Intervene as a Defendant by AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Holly A. Hopkins, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Beaudreau, Tommy) (Entered: 08/07/2026)	RECAP
	Aug. 10, 2026	MINUTE ORDER granting 28 Motion of the American Petroleum Institute for Leave to Intervene as a Defendant. American Petroleum Institute (API) shall be a defendant in this matter for all purposes. API shall file joint briefs with Intervenor-Defendant Chevron USA, Inc. Signed by Judge Amit P. Mehta on 08/10/2026. (lcapm2)
	Aug. 10, 2026	Order on Motion to Intervene
29	Aug. 13, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
30	Aug. 19, 2026	Extension of Time to File Answer	RECAP
	Aug. 20, 2026	Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer AND Set/Reset Deadlines
31	Aug. 31, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
32	Sept. 3, 2026	Stay	RECAP
33	Sept. 4, 2026	Order on Motion to Stay	RECAP
34	Sept. 4, 2026	Notice of Appearance	RECAP
35	Sept. 4, 2026	Answer to Complaint	RECAP
36	Sept. 4, 2026	Answer to Complaint	RECAP