Oct 3 (Reuters) – Former U.S. President Joe Biden exceeded his authority by withdrawing large areas along U.S. coastlines from future offshore oil and gas development, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled on Thursday. Biden, on one of his final days in office, used his authority under the 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw the areas. Weeks later, President Donald Trumpsigned an executive order repealing that effort. Cain ruled Biden’s withdrawal was illegal because it was intended to be permanent, and said withdrawals by former President Barack Obama were similar. Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights Sign up for newsletter and never miss an update — trusted by our 107,344 members