Colorado Supreme Court rules state law trumps local bans on fracking

[mahatmakanejeeves]

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
[e-mail]
@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]

1. I live in that area for part of the year. Very disappointed.

But unfortunately not surprised.

[cstanleytech]

2. Same but if they had ruled local laws trump state ones it could have opened a whole

can of worms such as letting cities trump federal law down the road as well.

[emulatorloo]

3. Understood. I just wish the State law didn't exist.

[Helen Borg]

4. Shut up folks and take your mandatory earthquakes!

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. And your poisoned drinking water!

[blackspade]

6. Fixed.

"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]

8. Absolutely right ^^^^^

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...?

[newthinking]

7. This hurts local democracy movements