On Tuesday Fort Collins city council members are expected to make a final decision on whether to pass a proposed hydraulic fracturing ban.
If approved, the change could trigger two lawsuits with the state and the Colorado Oil & Gas Association.
The proposed law, , would ban new oil and gas development within city limits. It would exempt existing operator Prospect Energy from the change鈥攕omething city officials had hoped would ward off potential lawsuits.
Hours after the initial vote, the trade group Colorado Oil and Gas Association . One week later Gov. John Hickenlooper used stronger language, if the ban is finalized.
Mayor Karen
That鈥檚 not a happy statement for a community to receive that the state wants to sue the municipality. Certainly, the city respects the authority of the state and the governor. He has a job to do and we have a job to do.
A look south to Longmont suggests that those legal threats are a concern. Longmont is currently embroiled in two lawsuits after voters approved a ban on fracking last November.
