NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — On Friday, a judge in North Dakota struck down a recent federal rule that energy leaders in North Dakota are celebrating.

U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor granted a preliminary injunction that blocks the Bureau of Land Management from enforcing its rule from April of this year on venting and flaring of natural gas.

Ron Ness with the North Dakota Petroleum Council says under the rule, many energy companies were subject to higher taxes and penalties.

The rule would have required additional flaring limits and costly compliance measures for oil and gas companies.

Judge Traynor wrote that the rule is arbitrary and capricious.

“The agencies, the federal agencies are imposing their will upon states, upon industries like oil and coal in North Dakota,” Ness said. “This is another significant step, saying ‘no,’ states have rights. States are doing this right. Federal government, you can’t just come in and impose your will nationwide over every state.”

Ness says oil companies in North Dakota have spent around $25 billion in the last 20 years, now capturing around 95% of natural gas, which he says is above the threshold required by the state.

Judge Traynor ruled to block the BLM from enforcing the rule in North Dakota, Montana, Texas, Wyoming, and Utah. North Dakota is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. This ruling is pending based on the outcome of the case.

Reactions to the ruling

North Dakota Senator John Hoeven : “North Dakota is a leader in energy production, so it only makes sense that our state would lead the court challenge of the Biden administration’s unnecessary and duplicative methane rule, and this ruling is welcome progress in stopping the overregulation that is handcuffing our domestic energy producers. At the same time, we continue to fight back against the Biden administration’s regulatory onslaught and Green New Deal policies that are driving up consumer costs and harming our nation’s energy security.”

U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL) : “Energy is the backbone of North Dakota’s economy, yet climate extremists and the bureaucrats in the Biden-Harris Administration continue to attempt to chip away at our freedoms and ability to manage our resources. While I am encouraged by Judge Traynor’s temporary block of BLM’s venting and flaring rule, I am seriously concerned by the Administration’s attack on our oil and gas industries and the lasting impacts associated with each decision. In Congress, I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect our resources and support the industries that fuel our economy.”

North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness : “We are extremely pleased with the court’s decision to block this overreaching federal rule. North Dakota has demonstrated time and again that our state-led regulatory framework works effectively, balancing environmental stewardship with economic growth. The BLM’s rule was duplicative, costly, and completely unnecessary given our state’s proven track record on gas capture and emissions reduction. This ruling is a win for our industry, our workers, and the broader economy. The federal government’s one-size-fits-all approach ignored the unique challenges we face in North Dakota’s oil fields and our state’s exceptional progress in gas capture, achieving an average 95% capture rate since 2022. The court’s decision affirms what we’ve been saying all along: North Dakota is the best regulator of its own resources. We’re committed to ensuring that our energy producers can continue operating responsibly, protecting both the environment and the livelihoods of thousands of North Dakotans.”

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