No Fracking Way in New Brunswick: Ordinance has First Reading at Council

A publically-petitioned ordinance calling for a ban on fracking in New Brunswick had its first reading at city council on Wednesday night.

The ordinance came about as a result of a grassroots petition organized by community residents and members of Food & Water Watch.

Approximately 500 signatures were gathered for the ordinance to come before the council, and were submitted on Aug. 20. On Wednesday night, city clerk Daniel Torrisi said the petition met guidelines for the council to take up the proposed ordinance.

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" is a mining practice in which pressurized water is blasted into rock to release underground stores of natural gas.

It's a controversial practice, surrounded by claims that the chemically-laced water pollutes local environments and comprises drinking water.

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, and environmentalists are concerned that runoff water could pollute other parts of the state.

The ordinance will have a public hearing during the 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 city council meeting.

Food & Water Watch Eastern Regional Director Jim Walsh said he was "excited" for the ban to have its first reading, and pointed to recent concerns over fracking wells in Colorado that may be compromised due to catastrophic floods there.

"It shows what could happen," he said.

In June, the council passed a resolution calling for lawmakers to re-enact a state moratorium on fracking, but Walsh and other supporters of a ban on fracking were not impressed with it.

In August 2011, the council also passed a resolution in favor of a statewide ban on fracking.

Nearby, Highland Park passed an ordinance banning fracking in the borough at their Tuesday Borough Council meeting.