Loveland, Lafayette verify petitions on fracking

Officials say petitioners have turned in enough valid signatures to ask voters in November to ban new oil and gas extraction in Lafayette.

The Daily Camera reports the city clerk verified 1,059 signatures in support of the proposal. Supporters had to submit 948.

The measure would ban hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and would disallow the disposal of associated waste products inside the city.

Also this week, the city of Loveland verified more than 2,200 voter signatures in support of a two-year moratorium on fracking, which involves blasting sand, water and chemicals underground to free oil and gas.

State regulators contend municipalities can enforce local land use codes related to drilling but can’t ban energy extraction. They are joining a trade group’s lawsuit challenging Longmont’s voter-approved fracking ban.