A federal judge has ruled South Carolina’s lawsuit to block offshore drilling can move forward.

SC Attorney General Alan Wilson filed an injunction in Jan. 2019 to block the federal government from allowing seismic testing for oil and natural gas off SC’s coast.

The federal government had asked that South Carolina’s lawsuit be dismissed.

Then-President Obama issued an executive order withdrawing Outer Continental Shelf Lands belonging to the United States from being leased for oil and gas exploration. That includes SC’s coast.

President Trump then issued an executive order to undo President Obama’s order.

Wilson argues that Congress gave presidents the authority to withdraw land from leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf but did not give presidents the power to reverse that decision and make such areas eligible again for leasing.

The federal government asked that South Carolina’s lawsuit be dismissed, but US District Judge Richard Gergel agreed with the state. His order allows it to proceed.

“I would like to thank Judge Gergel for allowing South Carolina’s claims to go forward,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “This case is vital to South Carolina and its beautiful coastline and natural resources.”

The order also references “the final order of the District of Alaska in League of Conservation Voters v. Trump, issued March 29, 2019, which declared part of President Trump’s Executive Order ‘unlawful and invalid’ because it exceeded the President’s authority to withdraw from protection areas on the OCS that by previous presidential order had been withdrawn from possible oil and gas leasing.”

Coastal Horry, Georgetown, Charleston, and Beaufort counties generate more than $13.5 billion for the state in tourism a year.

From 2007 to 2014, the economic value of coastal businesses grew from $37 billion to $44 billion, according to the most recent National Ocean Economic Program report.

“This economic growth is reliant on a vibrant and healthy marine ecosystem,” Wilson said.