"GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- An environmental advocacy group sued the Obama administration in federal court on Thursday for refusing to release documents detailing the extent of fracking in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit in U.S District Court in Washington, saying the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has refused to comply with the group's federal public records request for more information about how often oil companies are using the technique in Gulf waters.

"The public has a right to know where, when and how much fracking the federal government is allowing in the Gulf of Mexico," Kristen Monsell, a center attorney, said in a written statement.

The bureau's public affairs office would not comment on the lawsuit."

Jason Dearen reports for the Associated Press January 8, 2015. [2]