FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Anne Lee Foster: 757-870-5102, anneleefoster@gmail.com
***PRESS RELEASE***
City of Longmont Responds to Declaratory Action to Reinstate Fracking Ban
City admits many of the allegations in the Complaint
LONGMONT, CO – Today, the City of Longmont responded to Our Longmont’s and Food & Water Watch’s declaratory judgment action asking the Boulder County District Court to find that Longmont’s fracking ban (Article XVI) now complies with state law. Recent legislation known as SB19-181 went into effect in April 2019 granting local governments the power to regulate the oil and gas industry in a manner that is more strict and more protective than state law.
While the City of Longmont did not openly admit that SB 19-181 allows local governments to enact bans or moratoria of fracking activities, the City also did not deny that local governments have such power.
The Office of the Attorney General of Colorado has yet to respond to the judicial action and are the only defendants left to do so. They have until Monday, March 2, 2020, to respond.
Joe Salazar, Executive Director and Chief Litigator for Colorado Rising said, “I recognize this lawsuit places the City of Longmont in a tough position regarding banning fracking within its city limits. But, its residents overwhelmingly voted to ban fracking, and the City’s duty of loyalty is owed to its residents. I look forward to seeing whether the Polis Administration and Attorney General Phil Weiser will honor local communities’ right to fight for themselves against this abusive industry.”
The City of Longmont’s answer to the complaint is here along with the original declaratory judgment complaint here.
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Colorado Rising is powering the grassroots movement to protect public health & safety from dangerous oil & gas operations.
To learn more, please go to www.corising.org
