Judge Rules To Temporarily Block Federal Fracking Regulations
ThinkProgress
Judge Rules To Temporarily Block Federal Fracking Regulations
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U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl’s decision to issue a temporary stay on the rule wasn’t the full injunction that oil companies had called for in court. But the decision does mean that, while the stay is in place — which will be at least a month, the Casper Star Tribune reports — oil and gas permitting on public lands will go on under existing regulations, instead of under the new regulations. Skavdahl’s decision was based partially on the fact that the government hasn’t yet filed records on how the rule was created, so the judge wanted to give the government more time to do so. Afterward, he’d be able to adequately examine the oil industry’s legal argument.
The Western Energy Alliance, an oil and gas trade group, praised the judge’s decision, as did Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (R), who’s opposed to the federal rules. Oil industry groups, including the American Petroleum Institute, have claimed that the regulations will increase costs and delays on fracking projects.
Environmental groups weren’t as happy, however. The Sierra Club called the judge’s ruling a “setback for our public lands.”
“While these regulations didn’t go far enough to protect public health, they were a first and necessary step in reining in the dirty and dangerous oil and gas industry, and would begin to hold them accountable for the pollution they cause,” the group said in a statement. “Fracking needs more regulation, not less.”
More
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/06/24/3673517/fracking-rule-delay/
TheHill on same story
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245933-judge-blocks-federal-fracking-rule