Chevron USA Production Co. v. U.S. Department of Interior

MEMORANDUM OPINION

LAMBERTH, District Judge.

This comes before the Court on Chevron’s motion for summary judgment [11], the Department of Interior’s opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment [16], Chevron’s response [19/20], and Interior’s reply [22],

I. Background 1

Before the natural gas market was deregulated, companies entered into long-term fixed-price contracts for the delivery of natural gas. These contracts were employed for mineral reserves located on federal lands leased to producers (“lessees”) under various federal statutes. The contracts provided that the purchasing party…