US court seeks Trump position on fracturing rule

A federal court has given President Donald Trump's administration until 15 March to decide whether to continue litigation begun under former president Barack Obama seeking to regulate hydraulic fracturing on federal land.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday said it wants the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to tell the court if it wants to alter its legal position following the change in administrations.

The lawsuit seeks to reverse a lower court ruling that found the government lacked the authority to regulate fracturing on federal lands.

The new administration's actions in the case could shed new light on its approach to managing oil and gas development on federal lands. Trump has repeatedly criticized attempts to regulate hydraulic fracturing over concerns it could limit production.

Obama's administration filed the appeal in June 2016 in response to a lower court ruling that threw out Interior's efforts to set minimum standards on federal lands for fracturing, a well-stimulation technique that some worry can pollute drinking water. The appeal challenged that court's finding that the US Congress had never given Interior authority to regulate fracturing.

Oral arguments in the case are set for 22 March. But the court yesterday said it was "concerned" that legal briefs filed when Obama was in office might no longer reflect the new administration's position.

Interior did not respond to a request for comment.