Gwich'in Steering Comm. v. Dep't of Interior, No. 19-0208, 2019 WL 4786951 (D. Alaska Sept. 30, 2019) (Holland, J.)

Gwich'in Steering Comm. v. Dep't of Interior, No. 19-0208, 2019 WL 4786951 (D. Alaska Sept. 30, 2019) (Holland, J.)

Re:  Requests for records concerning implementation of oil and gas leasing program on Coastal Plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Disposition:  Granting defendants' motion to transfer

• Litigation Considerations, Venue and Removal:  "Having considered [certain] factors, the court concludes that this action should be transferred to the District Court of the District of Columbia."  "Involvement of two district courts will surely lead to unnecessary delay and potential confusion."  "Judicial resources as well as the parties' resources will be much better served if the District of Columbia court, which is already familiar with most of the parties and the oil and gas program at issue, moves this FOIA case forward in coordination with the FOIA case already pending there."  The court also discusses plaintiffs' choice of forum and finds that, "[h]ere, three of the four plaintiffs are Washington, D.C. non-profits."  "Only [one] is an Alaskan non-profit."  "Although the other three plaintiffs have offices and employees in Alaska, they are as 'at home' in Washington D.C. as they are in Anchorage, Alaska."