Texas Regulator Says She Won't Honor Town's Fracking Ban
Statement by Railroad Commission Chairwoman is just latest attack on ban since it passed one week ago
A Texas regulator declared last week she will not honor a fracking ban passed in the midterm elections by the town of Denton, in the north of the state.
Christi Craddick, Chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, which is charged with regulating the oil and gas industries in the state, told the Dallas Morning News on November 6, "It's my job to give permits, not Denton's... We're going to continue permitting up there because that's my job." The chairwoman is the daughter of Republican state representative and former House speaker Tom Craddick.
Adam Briggle from the Denton Drilling Awareness Group told the Dallas Morning News in response to Craddick's statement, "They should have got a wake-up call, but it's like they're still just sleeping."
The regulator's statement is not the first attack on the ban since it passed one week ago.
Just a day after the ban passed, the Texas Oil and Gas association filed an injunction in a bid to prevent it from being instated. In addition, the Texas General Land Office filed a separate lawsuit to block the new rule.
Denton was one of several communities across the United States to pass fracking bans last week.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
A Texas regulator declared last week she will not honor a fracking ban passed in the midterm elections by the town of Denton, in the north of the state.
Christi Craddick, Chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, which is charged with regulating the oil and gas industries in the state, told the Dallas Morning News on November 6, "It's my job to give permits, not Denton's... We're going to continue permitting up there because that's my job." The chairwoman is the daughter of Republican state representative and former House speaker Tom Craddick.
Adam Briggle from the Denton Drilling Awareness Group told the Dallas Morning News in response to Craddick's statement, "They should have got a wake-up call, but it's like they're still just sleeping."
The regulator's statement is not the first attack on the ban since it passed one week ago.
Just a day after the ban passed, the Texas Oil and Gas association filed an injunction in a bid to prevent it from being instated. In addition, the Texas General Land Office filed a separate lawsuit to block the new rule.
Denton was one of several communities across the United States to pass fracking bans last week.
A Texas regulator declared last week she will not honor a fracking ban passed in the midterm elections by the town of Denton, in the north of the state.
Christi Craddick, Chairwoman of the Texas Railroad Commission, which is charged with regulating the oil and gas industries in the state, told the Dallas Morning News on November 6, "It's my job to give permits, not Denton's... We're going to continue permitting up there because that's my job." The chairwoman is the daughter of Republican state representative and former House speaker Tom Craddick.
Adam Briggle from the Denton Drilling Awareness Group told the Dallas Morning News in response to Craddick's statement, "They should have got a wake-up call, but it's like they're still just sleeping."
The regulator's statement is not the first attack on the ban since it passed one week ago.
Just a day after the ban passed, the Texas Oil and Gas association filed an injunction in a bid to prevent it from being instated. In addition, the Texas General Land Office filed a separate lawsuit to block the new rule.
Denton was one of several communities across the United States to pass fracking bans last week.