Federal court blocks Obama administration's fracking rules [View all]

[FBaggins]

A federal court on Wednesday blocked an Obama administration rule putting stricter standards on hydraulic fracturing on federal land.

U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl issued a preliminary injunction on the grounds that the Interior Department did not have the legal authority to issue the rule. The controversial practice, also known as fracking, directs a high-pressure mixture of water and chemicals into rock to release gas.

The tactic has unlocked new sources of oil and gas in pockets of the United States, particularly in Western states. That growth, though, was accompanied by concerns about environmental and health effects like earthquakes and drinking water contamination.

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The Obama administration rules would require public disclosure of chemicals used during fracking on federal lands and better containment of waste fluid. Federal land produces 11 percent of the natural gas and 5 percent of the oil consumed in the U.S., according to the Wall Street Journal.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/30/federal-court-blocks-obama-administrations-fracking-rules-dj.html