In the first of two rulings, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a local law approved in the city of Fort Collins imposing a five year ban on fracking, saying "the moratorium is preempted by state law and is, therefore, invalid and 20 unenforceable."
In a second related ruling, the Supreme Court struck down an outright ban on fracking in the city of Longmont, which the court also said was pre-empted by state law.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process where oil and proprietary chemicals are injected into wells at high pressure to break up rock formations that impede the flow of oil and gas to the well head.
Environmental groups oppose the practice, citing cases where fracking has contaminated local water supplies.
All comments
Show new comments (0)
in reply to(Show commentHide comment)