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The US Supreme Court declined on Friday to block environmental regulations aimed at reducing harmful emissions of mercury from power plants and methane from oil and gas facilities.

The court, without comment, rejected a request by industry groups and Republican state attorneys general who had asked for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules to be put on hold while litigation continues in lower courts.

The EPA regulations, brought under the Clean Air Act, are designed to limit emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollutants from coal-fired power plants and curb emissions of methane—a super-pollutant greenhouse gas—from oil and gas facilities.

They are being challenged by power and mining companies and oil and gas firms who contend they are unnecessary and costly.

The nonprofit National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) welcomed the Supreme Court move allowing the EPA rules to remain in place for now.

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