A federal judge in South Carolina issued an injunction stopping the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s processing of applications for offshore oil and gas seismic permits on the US Mid-Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf during the federal government’s partial shutdown. US District Judge Richard M. Gergel issued his Jan. 18 order after South Carolina Atty. Gen. Alan Wilson brought the situation to his attention following reports that BOEM employees were continuing preparation of the permits while much of the rest of the US Department of the Interior was closed.

Source: News