Energy industry groups and states that oppose new U.S. rules for hydraulic fracturing on public lands are headed to court this month to try to block the regulations a day before they are to take effect. Foes of the regulations will go before a federal judge on June 23 to seek a preliminary injunction. The Interior Department rules, slated to take effect on June 24, would require companies to provide data on chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and to take steps to prevent leakage from oil and gas wells on federally owned land. This is the “first tranche in this battle,” said Dan Naatz, senior vice president for government relations at the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA), one of the groups seeking the injunction. Fracking involves injection of large amounts of water, sand and chemicals underground at high pressure to extract fuel. Environmental groups and […]