The American Petroleum Institute warns of possible “disruptive consequences” stemming from a Maryland federal judge striking down a government assessment of oil and gas program activities in the Gulf of Mexico as arbitrary, capricious and in violation of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman ruled the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2020 Biological Opinion violates the Administrative Procedure Act and ESA. Her 84-page memorandum opinion filed Aug. 19 rejects numerous arguments made by Hogan Lovells, King & Spalding, Holland & Hart and Stoel Rives on behalf of intervening defendants, including Chevron USA and API.