CASPER, Wyo. – A federal judge in Wyoming has postponed new federal rules for oil and gas drilling on federal land a day before they were set to take effect.

The stay issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl means new rules for the practice of hydraulic fracturing on federal lands now won’t take effect until at least mid-August.

Skavdahl says he wants more documentation showing how the U.S. Bureau of Land Management developed the rules. Only then will he rule on whether the rules should take effect while a lawsuit contesting them moves ahead.

Colorado, North Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and two petroleum industry groups claim the rules would cause economic harm by discouraging oil and gas development. Attorneys for the states and industry groups said they’re pleased by the stay.

Interior spokeswoman Jessica Kershaw says the BLM will abide by the stay and process drilling permits under the pre-existing regulations for now.

The rules would require petroleum developers to disclose the chemical products they use to facilitate fracking through a national online database. Fracking involves pumping large volumes of water mixed with fine sand and chemicals into wells to crack open deposits and aid the flow of oil and gas. The states claim they already have effective regulations for oil and gas drilling.

“Developers will flee Utah as a simple cost-avoidance measure, both during the weakened oil market and after,” attorneys for Utah argued in court documents.

The rules would cost the oil and gas industry an additional $11,000 to $97,000 per well, according to the filing.

Six environmental groups sided with the federal government in the case, arguing strong standards are needed protect water, wildlife and federal lands.