CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge on Wednesday blocked new nationwide regulations for oil and gas drilling on federal lands from taking effect while a lawsuit moves ahead, pointing to a law that prohibits the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating hydraulic fracturing.
Just because the EPA lacks authority to regulate fracking doesn’t mean the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has leeway to do so, U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl wrote. “In the absence of a statute conferring authority, an administrative agency has none,” he wrote. Continue reading “Judge blocks federal oil, gas drilling rules pending lawsuit”
