A trio of trade groups from Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry is pursuing a lawsuit against state environmental regulators in an effort to block a measure to control methane and other air pollution from applying to conventional well sites, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Industry groups are arguing the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection created a single standard for both conventional and unconventional wells sites, disregarding a 2016 state law that requires conventional wells to be regulated independently from those tapping the Marcellus and Utica shales.

The DEP dismissed the argument when making the rule; however, withdrew the rule from consideration by the state’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission at its upcoming meeting on May 19. It said the rule will be resubmitted at a later time.

In a scheduled May 10 hearing, the Commonwealth Court will review the conventional drilling groups’ request to stop the rule from taking effect on them while the court considers the case.

The rule is reflective of federal standards the state must enforce by mid-June or face sanctions, including the loss of federal highway funds.

Learn more: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette > Conventional oil and gas industry sues to be excluded from Pa. methane rule