Trump Administration: Don't Decide On Major Federal Fracking Rule Yet

DENVER, CO —The Trump administration is asking three federal appeals court judges in Denver to hold off on a decision regarding a major federal fracking rule implemented by the Obama administration.

The Trump administration first announced plans to roll back the rule in March. The rule would require drilling companies to disclose what chemicals they've used for fracking, the process of cracking open underground oil and gas deposits with pressurized water, sand and chemicals. It was put on hold last year after a Wyoming judge said the Bureau of Land Management had no authority to set such a rule.

In a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing Thursday, the government asked the court to leave the district court's current ruling in effect until it can be replaced. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The government would need to go through a series of legal processes before replacement, which includes receiving comment from the public. Since replacement could be years away, the Bureau of Land Management has asked the court to leave the district court's ruling in effect until a new one is implemented.

Environmentalists say the rules would protect land and water. Two industry groups, an American Indian tribe and the states of Colorado, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming say the rules developed under Obama duplicate state regulations and would cost jobs.

By TATIANA FLOWERS, Associated Press

Photo credit: Ed Andrieski/Associated Press