California takes Trump administration to court over fracking rule repeal

California has filed a lawsuit against the Donald Trump administration over its decision to repeal Obama-era regulations related to hydraulic fracturing on federal lands.

The development comes after the US Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) annulled the 2015 final rule on fracking last month, in line with Trump’s goal to scrap federal regulations he considers to be detrimental to economic growth and energy development.

Fracking involves the use of high-pressure injection of water and chemicals to release oil and gas trapped inside rock formations underground.

The California Government is challenging the decision taken by BLM on the ground that fracking can potentially contaminate underground sources of drinking water.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: “Once again, President Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke didn’t let the law or facts get in their way in their zeal to repeal the 2015 Fracking Rule.

“The Interior Department’s own factual record shows that the risks to our health and environment are real. So, once again, the California Department of Justice will get in the way of another reckless Trump violation of our laws.”

The legal route taken by the state government seeks to challenge the status quo and plead with the Court to direct BLM to reinstate the 2015 Fracking Rule.

As per the BLM estimates, around 90% of production wells drilled in fiscal year 2017 on Federal and Indian lands were completed using hydraulic fracturing techniques.