Copper Valley Machine Works, Inc. v. Andrus
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
653 F.2d 595 (1981)
USGS permitted Copper Valley (plaintiff) to drill in Alaska only during winter to protect permafrost; after obtaining an initial two-year extension, Copper Valley sought a further 12-month extension shortly before its lease expired, to compensate for its two prior summer shutdowns, but the Secretary of the Interior (defendant) denied it, arguing the statute applied only to unanticipated interruptions and that Copper Valley's interpretation would improperly double lease terms beyond the statutory maximum. The district court agreed with the Secretary and granted him summary judgment.
Whether, under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, a drilling lease is entitled to an extension if it contains a seasonal drilling restriction that protects the environment.