Natural gas

The groups contend the approval of the pipeline project in November violated the Endangered Species Act.

Oil production rose 3% from a year earlier, to 3.9 million barrels per day.

The median age in the county is now 44.9, compared with 32.9 in Pittsburgh.

Black Hills Energy serves roughly 129,500 customers in Wyoming.

Patterson has said it does not comment on pending litigation but is committed to preventing future accidents.

Other members of the group include Utah, the Ute Indian Tribe and four Colorado counties.

The oil company can still press its case with Interior or continue to challenge the matter in court.

A Democratic senator from Oregon and environmentalists blasted the proposal as undercutting local communities opposed to fossil fuel exports.

The wells would be drilled in an area covering some 220 square miles.

The Bureau of Land Management issued a record of decision Tuesday.