A US District Court has issued a preliminary injunction that requires the Interior Department to put aside its decision to suspend an Obama-era rule meant to limit leaks during oil and natural gas production activities on federal lands.

The restraining order, issued by US District Court for the Northern District of California judge William Orrick, follows the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) decision in December last year to suspend the waste prevention rule until January 2019.

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The case in the district court was filed by the states of California and New Mexico, in addition to environmental and not-for-profit organisations.

In his judgement, Orrick wrote: “The BLM’s reasoning behind the Suspension Rule is untethered to evidence contradicting the reasons for implementing the Waste Prevention Rule, and so plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits.

“The BLM’s reasoning behind the Suspension Rule is untethered to evidence contradicting the reasons for implementing the Waste Prevention Rule, and so plaintiffs are likely to prevail on the merits.”

“They have shown irreparable injury caused by the waste of publicly owned natural gas, increased air pollution and associated health impacts, and exacerbated climate impacts. Plaintiffs are entitled to a preliminary injunction on this record.”

The waste prevention rule in question came into picture in 2016 and required oil and gas firms to reduce waste of natural gas from venting, flaring, and leaks during production activities.

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On its part, the BLM noted that certain provisions in the rule would lead to regulatory burdens that would affect energy production, economic growth and job creation.

The agency also stated that some states already have regulations, similar to those mandated in the 2016 rule, to address the loss of gas.

Earlier this month, the BLM made a proposal to revise the methane rule, eliminating certain provisions and regulatory requirements.