Judge blocks US fracking rules after petroleum groups and states object

Wyoming court suspends regulations that were due to take effect on Wednesday governing hydraulic fracturing for gas exploration on public lands

A US district judge in Wyoming has granted a request by four states and several energy industry groups to temporarily block new federal rules governing fracking on public lands.

The interior department rules due to come into force on Wednesday would require companies to provide data on chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, and to take steps to prevent leakage from oil and gas wells on federally owned land.