North Dakota officials are warning that a new federal fracking rule will likely cost the state $300 a year in income and 1,900 jobs.
In March,the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized new rules to regulate hydraulic oil and gas fracturing on public lands. Several states have filed suit, arguing that the new rules supersede the state’s authority and “invade” the jurisdiction of the state regulatory bodies.
Related: Federal Fracking Regulations Challenged
The ruling is particularly significant to North Dakota because of it vast public lands. It is estimated that BLM has an interest in about a third of the drilling units in North Dakota that were acquired the mineral rights on defaulted farms during the the Great Depression.
Lynn Helms, director of the Department of Mineral Resources believes that the ruling will cause companies to leave North Dakota, which could cost the state $9.4 billion in royalties and taxes.
The rule is set to take effect on June 24th and to delay implementation, North Dakota filed a request for a preliminary injunction against the BLM while the court reviewed previous challenges. A hearing is set for June 23 in U.S. District Court in Casper, Wyo.
Read more at dmr.nd.gov