A group of landowners filed a lawsuit last week, claiming the Department of Natural Resources violated several procedures as it wrote rules to implement a state law regulating hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking.
Among the allegations is that the DNR didn't consider scientific studies and there was no agency representative available to answer residents' questions at public hearings.
Madison County Judge Barbara Crowder heard arguments Tuesday and took the case under advisement. She likely will rule by Friday, when the Secretary of State's office could publish the rules as official.
A DNR attorney says the rules became official when approved by a legislative panel Nov. 6.
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