Denton city council rejects partial fracking ban; issue goes to November ballot
DENTON, Texas —
The council governing a North Texas city that sits atop a large natural gas reserve rejected a bid early Wednesday that would have made it the first city in the state to ban further permitting of hydraulic fracturing in the community.
Denton City Council members voted down the petition 5-2 after eight hours of public testimony, sending the proposal to a public ballot in November.
Fracking involves blasting a mix of water, sand and chemicals deep into underground rock formations to release trapped oil and gas. While the method has long stirred concerns about its effects on the environment and human health, industry proponents argue that fracking can be done safely and is cleaner than other forms of energy extraction.
Industry groups and state regulators warned such a ban could be followed by litigation and a severe hit to Denton's economy.
More at http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/us/north-texas-city-rejects-partial-fracking-ban/nggZZ/ .