Mealey's (December 22, 2020, 1:04 PM EST) -- SAN FRANCISCO — Environmental groups on Dec. 16 filed a response brief in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals arguing that the decision of federal agencies to grant hydraulic fracturing leases was “substantively and procedurally unlawful” and, therefore, the lower court ruling that vacated the leases should stand (Montana Wildlife Federation v. David Bernhardt, et al., No. 20-35609, 9th Cir.)....