"WASHINGTON - A federal court judge on Friday ruled that the federal government cannot process seismic testing permits for offshore oil drilling during the ongoing government shutdown, dealing a blow Trump administration’s energy agenda.

Judge Richard Gergel of the U.S. District Court in South Carolina issued the decision in response to a motion filed by a range of conservation and business groups and coastal cities opposed to the administration’s efforts to expand U.S. offshore drilling.

The Justice Department had sought a delay in the court proceedings arguing that it did not have the resources it needed to work on the case during the shutdown."

Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters January 18, 2019. [2]

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"Judge blocks Trump administration from processing permits for offshore seismic tests" (McClatchy) [3]