A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration's 2024 rule aimed at reducing methane emissions and natural gas waste on federal and tribal lands, citing it as 'arbitrary and capricious'. The rule, enforced by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), sought to mandate waste reduction plans and leak detection programs, promising over $50 million in additional royalties. North Dakota, Montana, Texas, Wyoming, and Utah argued that it overstepped federal authority and conflicted with state regulations. U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled that the rule adds unnecessary layers of regulation and lacks clear explanations. The decision has been met with approval from the challenging states, who see it as protection of their sovereign rights. The Interior Department is reviewing the judgment.