Norton drops off-shore drilling fight in Calif.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2003

The Bush administration won't ask the Supreme Court to force the state of California to accept off-shore drilling, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton said on Monday.

The Department of Interior lost a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that said California has a right to review and possibly halt new drilling. The state's politicians and the public oppose development.

Get the Story:
Calif. Wins Legal Fight To Review Oil Leases (The Washington Post 4/1)
U.S. won't fight review of offshore oil leases (Copley News Service 4/1)
Interior Department Will Not Seek Supreme Court Review of California Offshore Leases Litigation (DOI 3/31)

Get the Decision:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA v. NORTON No. 0116637p (12/02/2002)