No Fracking in New Brunswick: Council Passes Ban

After a summer's worth of dialogue with environmental advocates, the New Brunswick City Council passed an anti-fracking ordinance on Wednesday night.

The ordinance came about following the submission of a 500-signature petition by community members and members of Food & Water Watch, requesting that the council ban the controversial natural gas mining procedure in New Brunswick.

The ordinance was introduced on first reading at the September 18 city council meeting and voted on last night.

This past June the council passed a resolution calling for lawmakers to re-enact a state moratorium on fracking, but advocates looking for a ban on the practice in New Brunswick were not impressed with it.

Most of New Jersey is not on the immediate radar for fracking, but areas near the Delaware Water Gap may have some potential for the practice. Environmentalists are concerned that runoff water could pollute other parts of the state.

A resolution was also passed in August 2011 in favor of a statewide band on fracking.

New Brunswick is the second New Jersey town to outright ban the practice of fracking. Nearby Highland Park was the first on September 17.