Colorado Supreme Court rules state law trumps local bans on fracking
Source: Denver Post
Colorado Supreme Court rules state law trumps local bans on fracking
State's high court calls Longmont, Fort Collins measures on fracking "invalid and unenforceable"
By Bruce Finley
303-954-1700
bfinley@denverpost.com
@finleybruce
The Denver Post
Posted: 05/02/2016 07:58:08 AM MDT | Updated: about 3 hours ago
Colorado's Supreme Court ruled against Front Range cities' push to limit oil and gas development near people Monday, saying state power to regulate the industry trumps local measures, which the court deemed "invalid and unenforceable."
The court overturned Fort Collins' five-year moratorium on fracking within the city limits. Justices concluded it "operationally conflicts" with state law and therefore, under well-established principles, must be pre-empted by the state. It also rejected Longmont's 2012 ban on fracking because it "materially impedes" use of state power.
Court officials unveiled the rulings 144 days after justices heard arguments at a time of intensifying political controversy. Colorado has emerged as a leading oil and gas producer with more than 50,000 active oil and gas wells and more than 45,000 inactive wells where land must now be restored. And Colorado residents again are pushing ballot initiatives to establish stronger limits on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the industry's current technique of injecting sand, millions of gallons of water and chemicals deep underground to accelerate extraction of oil and gas.
Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29839543/colorado-high-court-rule-state-vs-local-power
emulatorloo
(44,274 posts)But unfortunately not surprised.
cstanleytech
(26,361 posts)can of worms such as letting cities trump federal law down the road as well.
emulatorloo
(44,274 posts)Helen Borg
(3,963 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)blackspade
(10,056 posts)"The court overturned Fort Collins' five-year moratorium on fracking within the city limits. Justices concluded it "operationally conflicts" with Oil and Gas Corporate profits and therefore, under well-established principles, must be pre-empted by the state. It also rejected Longmont's 2012 ban on fracking because it "materially impedes" use of Corporate power."
Gumboot
(531 posts)All this and more is contained within the pages of the TTIP - a corporate coup over every form of democracy, not just local.
Now where's my pitchfork...?