No action pursuant to the regulations in this subpart shall be suspended under §4.21(a) of this title due to an appeal from a decision by the authorized officer to hold a lease sale. The authorized officer may suspend the offering of a specific parcel while considering a protest or appeal against its inclusion in a Notice of Competitive Lease Sale.

Only the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management may suspend a lease sale for good and just cause after reviewing the reason(s) for an appeal.