LONGMONT —As demonstrators across the United States and in other countries protested Saturday against the natural-gas drilling process known as fracking, about 100 protesters gathered in Longmont to support Ballot Measure 300, which would ban fracking within the Longmont city limits.
Sponsored by Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont and other like-minded organizations, the gathering featured music and impassioned speeches about the perceived dangers of hydraulic fracturing.
Our Health, Our Future, Our Longmont collected enough signatures to put Ballot Measure 300 to a vote this election. Should it pass, state agencies have all but guaranteed a lawsuit against the city — which is already facing one from the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission.
The large volumes of natural gas found by fracturing underground shale rock across the country has spurred a boom in natural-gas production that has been credited with creating jobs and lowering prices for industry and consumers.
But scientists disagree on the risks of hydraulic fracking, a process that injects large volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to break rock apart and free the gas.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many state regulators say fracking can be done safely, and the American Lung Association says it can help reduce air pollution.
Opponents say the process can pollute water and sicken residents.
Longmont has become something of a ground zero for the issue. First, the Longmont City Council passed regulations that the Oil & Gas Commission said are too stringent, and for that the city is being sued. Longmont’s response to the lawsuit was to say that the commission has no authority to bring the suit.
And now Ballot Measure 300, if passed, would make a citywide ban on fracking a city law.
“We are the only city in the country that has the vote of the people making the decision on fracking,” said Lindsay Gahn, a 13-year Longmont resident and one of the rally’s speakers.
