The Boulder City Council will consider a moratorium on fracking within city limits and on city-owned lands at its June 4 meeting.
Council members on Tuesday asked the City Attorney's Office to prepare a moratorium and present it at the first meeting in June. The moratorium
Environmental activists and concerned Boulder residents have pressed the city to adopt a moratorium. Councilwoman Suzanne Jones also asked for a moratorium at the council retreat in January.
Jones reiterated her concerns on Tuesday.
"I think our lands could well be at risk, and we need to protect them," she said.
City officials are working on several issues related to fracking, including updating the city's regulations on gas drilling, which were last updated in 1993, identifying wells on open space, protecting the city's water utility land and preparing an ordinance prohibiting the useof any city water in fracking.
A moratorium could give the city time to look at those issues before dealing with any potential drilling.
City Attorney Tom Carr said he needs to research the legal defensibility of a moratorium, particularly a 5-year moratorium, which was requested by activists, as well as the city's ability to extend a moratorium beyond city limits to open space in the unincorporated county.
Longmont has adopted regulations on fracking, and its voters approved a ban on the practice.
The state has sued Longmont over those decisions. Until those cases wind their way through the courts, there will be uncertainty over which types of regulations local government can enact. The state oil and gas commission considers the regulation of fracking its purview.
Councilman Ken Wilson said people should keep in mind that cheap natural gas is an important resource.
"The reason we're not freezing in this building is because we're burning natural gas," Wilson said.
Wilson pointed out the city's municipalization plans also depend in large part on cheap natural gas.
Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum said the city still has a special interest in fracking because the lands vulnerable to oil and gas drilling are open space.
"We're not looking at generic lands," he said. "We're looking at open space that has been bought for preservation." ___
(c)2013 the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.)
Visit the Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.) at www.dailycamera.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
