CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Six environmental groups seek to join the federal government in opposing two lawsuits that contest upcoming rules for oil and gas drilling on federal lands.
The Sierra Club, Earthworks and The Wilderness Society are among the groups filing Tuesday to intervene in the cases.
The new rules would require companies drilling on federal land to report information about chemicals used during a drilling process. The lawsuits claim states already have good rules and the federal ones aren't necessary.
Wyoming, North Dakota and Colorado are the plaintiffs in one lawsuit. The Independent Petroleum Association of America and Western Energy Alliance are the plaintiffs in the other.
The Wyoming federal judge overseeing the lawsuits plans to hear arguments June 23 for and against postponing the rules set to take effect June 24.