N.J. lawmakers urged to take up fracking ban

Environmental groups are calling on the New Jersey Legislature to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a bill to ban fracking—and to do so quickly.

Christie imposed a one-year moratorium on the gas-drilling process in August when he rejected the bill lawmakers passed to ban it.

Environmentalists are urging legislative leaders to make an override attempt on Monday, the last day of the current session.

If that doesn’t happen, Tracy Carluccio of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network says opponents will continue to push for a ban.

“This issue is getting bigger. The electorate is getting more and more incensed. So I think will we see this issue continue as a firestorm. It has become that and it will grow,” she said. “It’s not going away and we’re not going away.”

Opponents say fracking threatens the region’s water supplies.

“We should be looking at what has happened across this country because gas drilling is dirty, it’s dangerous, and can only pollute our drinking water sources,” said Doug O’Malley of Environment New Jersey. “The legislature should make a stand for clean water.”

The governor maintains more study is needed to evaluate the safety of the gas-drilling process.