coalition of environmental groups wants to help defend new fracking regs
Item from The Hill's Overnight: Energy & Environment
No link provided
NEWS BITE:
A coalition of environmental groups asked a federal court Tuesday for permission to intervene to defend the federal government's new regulations on hydraulic fracturing on federal land against state and industry challenges.
Earthjustice, which is representing the green groups, called the challenges by three states and two oil and gas industry groups "extreme" and "meritless" in a statement.
"Our public lands belong to all Americans," said Michael Freeman, the attorney representing the greens. "They should be managed under strong national standards that protect our water, land and wildlife -- not just to benefit oil and gas companies."
The decision to defend the Interior Department Bureau of Land Management's stance came despite environmentalists' strong disappointment with the rules that were finalized in March.
