{"id":38042,"date":"2014-07-29T06:30:13","date_gmt":"2014-07-29T11:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/?p=38042"},"modified":"2014-08-05T09:56:34","modified_gmt":"2014-08-05T14:56:34","slug":"dont-frack-on-me-challenges-to-the-right-to-drill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/texas\/2014\/07\/29\/dont-frack-on-me-challenges-to-the-right-to-drill\/","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Frack on Me: Local Challenges to the Right to Drill"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Video

Via CityofDenton.com<\/p>

Video shown to Denton City Council by citizens concerned that flares at drilling sites threatened neighborhoods<\/p><\/div>\n

In Texas, a government official has warned that groups opposed to fracking might be acting on behalf of Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Colorado, a TV ad<\/a> portrays fracking opponents as goofy idiots who believe the moon may be made of cheese.<\/p>\n

The attacks on drilling opponents may reflect how deeply concerned the industry has become over citizen-led efforts to curb fracking, the now widely-used drilling technique that’s dramatically increasing oil & gas production from shale rock formations.<\/p>\n

In both states, there are new and serious proposals for referendums to allow voters to impose statewide restrictions<\/a> on drilling or to allow local bans on fracking<\/a>. The public referendums<\/a> would by-pass state legislatures and state regulatory agencies where, especially in Texas, the oil and gas industry enjoys enormous clout and support<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Texas law also officially promotes oil & gas drilling. The state’s Natural Resources Code<\/a> says the “mineral resources of this state should be fully and effectively exploited.” But the code also says local governments have the right to regulate drilling.<\/p>\n