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Challengers battle Obama over BLM Oil and Gas Methane Rule

The Obama administration will square off against industry and several states this month over the Bureau of Land Management’s new methane rule regulating emissions from the oil and gas operations.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming will hear both state and industry challengers on Jan. 6, both of whom are asking the district court to issue a preliminary injunction, blocking it from taking effect while the litigation plays out. The rule is scheduled to take effect Jan. 17.

Two industry groups — the Independent Petroleum Association of America and Western Energy Alliance — sued over the rule immediately after its release in November. Wyoming and Montana quickly followed suit, joined by North Dakota last week. The states and industry groups argue that the rule — which aims to cut methane emissions from venting and flaring at oil and gas sites on public and tribal lands — is costly, duplicative and beyond BLM’s authority.

FACT SHEET ON METHANE AND WASTE REDUCTION RULE

DOI PRESS RELEASE OF NEW RULE