Lawsuit Challenges State Fracking Panel

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit challenging the North Carolina legislature’s role in appointing the majority of members on the N.C. Mining and Energy Commission, the body responsible for developing rules to regulate fracking in the state. Lawyers for the environmental group claim the legislature violated the state constitution, which requires that legislative and executive powers “be forever separate and distinct from each other.” Plaintiffs hope for a ruling that voids the commission.