(September 3, 2015, 1:23 PM EDT) -- FARGO, N.D. — Twelve states on Sept. 1 urged a North Dakota federal judge to apply his preliminary injunction against implementation of the Clean Water Rule nationwide, while the federal government argued that the court’s ruling should be limited to the plaintiffs before the court (States of North Dakota, et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., No. 15-59, D. N.D., South East Div.).

On June 29, North Dakota, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, the New Mexico Environment...