States and industry groups had asked the Supreme Court to pause the EPA's rule that aims to curb emissions of methane from new and existing oil and gas facilities.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Friday to put on hold new federal air pollution rules from President Joe Biden's administration to tighten limits on mercury and methane, acting in challenges brought by a group of states - most of them Republican-led - and industry groups.

The Supreme Court is refusing to hear several cases challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to implement two rules meant to reduce toxic emissions from the oil and gas industry.