FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Fort Collins City Council votes to ban fracking within city limits, despite threats of a possible lawsuit from Governor John Hickenlooper.
Gov. Hickenlooper vowed that he would sue any municipality that bans oil and gas development, claiming it violates the state's authority over oil and gas regulation.
The Fort Collins City Council voted to impose a ban during their meeting Tuesday.
Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat says it is their duty to do what is in the best interest of their citizens, despite a potential lawsuit.
"We've had a major public outcry from the residents of Fort Collins regarding health and safety issues that go along with hydraulic fracturing and that's one of the responsibilities of local government is to address citizen wants and needs and concerns," Weitkunat said.
Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a gas drilling process that blasts chemicals and water deep into the ground.
Environmentalists say the technique pollutes groundwater and the chemicals are unsafe.
