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The lawsuit says EPA’s decision to put the brakes on Biden-era regulations will lead to wasted energy and increased pollution.

A flare burns off methane and other hydrocarbons as oil pump jacks operate in the Permian Basin in Midland, Texas. David Goldman/AP

Health and environmental groups are taking the Trump administration to court over its delay of a crackdown on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

In a petition filed Wednesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the groups challenged a final EPA rule that will push back Biden-era requirements for cutting waste and pollution from oil and gas leaks. The groups said the move will worsen pollution and that EPA advanced the regulation despite a pending lawsuit against an interim version of the rule.

“By catering to a few rogue actors in the industry and suspending these rules, EPA is blatantly violating the law,” said Meredith Hankins, federal climate director at the Natural Resources Defense Council, which is among the challengers. “If this is allowed to stand, the climate crisis will worsen and communities across the country will be choked in more smog.”

EPA declined comment, citing a longstanding practice of not commenting on current or pending litigation.

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