A petition to ban hydraulic fracturing in Longmont has enough signatures to go before voters in November.
LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) - Supporters needed to gather 5,704 valid signatures. Longmont Times-Call reports (http://bit.ly/OQYFqF ) City Clerk Valeria Skitt said Tuesday night that at least 6,600 signatures have been validated.
Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," is a technique for extracting oil and gas from shale formations by blasting water, sand and chemicals into the ground. Opponents have expressed environmental and health concerns over the process, but supporters say companies have been fracking safely for years.
This summer, the Longmont City Council adopted new oil and gas regulations that include restrictions on drilling in residential areas. State regulators are suing the city over the rules, arguing that the rules cover issues already regulated by the state.
Information from: Daily Times-Call, http://timescall.com/
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
(Image courtesy of Stock.xchng)
