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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials have vacated an order forcing landowners to sell their natural gas and oil to an energy company following a ruling from a federal judge who found Idaho officials violated the U.S. Constitution.
The Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission on Tuesday voted 5-0 to vacate the order after the federal judge in the August ruling directed the panel to do exactly that.
Citizens Allied for Integrity and Accountability sued in 2017, contending the state discriminated against landowners with an order finalizing a deal that favored Alta Mesa.
The court ruling said the state's lack of explanation for what is "just and reasonable" meant the state failed to satisfy due process requirements.
State officials plan to hold a public hearing that will consider how to define "just and reasonable."
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