Tribe Urges Federal Court to Block BLM Fracking Rule

An American Indian tribe in southwest Colorado is urging a federal court to stop the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) rule governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on public and tribal lands from taking effect on Wednesday, joining four states and two industry groups in opposing the rule. On Monday, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the BLM and the Department of Interior (DOI). The tribe also filed a lawsuit against both government entities last Thursday. According to the complaint, the BLM's fracking rule is "arbitrary, capricious [and] an abuse of discretion" because it runs afoul of the Indian Reorganization Act, the Indian Mineral Leasing Act and the Indian Mineral Development Act...more