Area activist groups and businesses are seeking to defend the Biden administrationâs pause on federal oil and gas leasing from legal challenges in court. A coalition of 21 conservation and other groups have filed motions to intervene in lawsuits brought by the state of Wyoming and the Western Energy Alliance to contest the leasing moratorium. Among the groups are the Western Colorado Alliance, the Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop, Citizens for a Healthy Community in Paonia and the Valley Organic Growers Association in the North Fork Valley. A handful of companies also have separately moved to intervene to defend the moratorium, including Roan Creek Ranch, Aspen Skiing Co., the Thistle Whistle Farm in Delta County, and Western Spirit Cycling in Moab, Utah.